Parenting self-efficacy and maternal mental health: the implications of cultural considerations for family-focused practice in the U.S.

The potential benefits of family-focused practice for parents with mental illness have received increasing attention in the last decade, given the significant relationship between parenting status and mental health. It is important to place the experience of motherhood in a cultural context, an approach that is likely to enhance the effectiveness of interventions, services, and supports for mothers and their families. In this Perspective article, we propose that the relationship between parenting self-efficacy and maternal mental health is moderated by a woman's cultural lens (perceptions of motherhood) and cultural context (i.e., family support and community resources). We consider these concepts as they reflect the experiences of Hispanic/Latina women living in the US as an example, informed by a scoping review of the related literature. The literature underscores the notion that these may change over time or vary, given shifts in acculturation and enculturation, family circumstances and needs, and children's characteristics and stage of development. Consideration of these key concepts suggests implications for family-focused practice approaches, and the importance of relevant research measures and methods to demonstrate effectiveness.