Abstract
Transition to parenthood is a significant change in a woman's life. An important predictor of parenting abilities and well-being is parental self-efficacy.
Recent studies give rise to a hypothesis that mothers' parental self-efficacy can be influenced by social-psychological determinants of birth experience (interactions with partner and caregivers, successful mastery experience). In a longitudinal 2-phase research, we have followed parental self-efficacy determinants working around 1st childbirth as well as birth experience determinants.
Although parental self-efficacy is mainly prenatally determined, caregivers' support and continuous presence of birth partner can impact it positively, especially at women having vaginal birth. Growth of parental self-efficacy after cesarean section is influenced rather by postpartum care characteristics.