Maternal Self-Efficacy Buffers the Effects of COVID-19–Related Experiences on Postpartum Parenting Stress

OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations of maternal self-efficacy (MSE) and perceived social support with parenting stress during the postpartum period during the COVID-19 pandemic and whether these two psychosocial factors account for variance in parenting stress in addition to the effects of COVID-19–related experiences and sociodemographic factors. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Online survey, the Perinatal Experiences and COVID-19 Effects (PEACE) study, launched in May 2020. PARTICIPANTS: Participants included 310 women who gave birth in the past 24 weeks. METHODS: The survey included self-report quantitative measures of MSE, social support, COVID-19–related experiences, parenting stress, symptoms of depression and anxiety, and a range of sociodemographic factors. RESULTS: Hierarchical multiple regression analysis indicated that MSE and social support were negatively associated with postpartum parenting stress in addition to the effects of COVID-19–related experiences, maternal symptoms of depression and anxiety, and a range of demographic factors. Furthermore, MSE interacted with COVID-19–related experiences such that higher levels of MSE mitigated the effects of COVID-19–related experiences on parenting stress. CONCLUSION: Our findings underscore the importance of protective factors at the individual and interpersonal levels and provide insights for prevention and intervention programs aimed at mitigating postpartum parenting stress during a wide-scale disaster such as the COVID-19 pandemic.