Maternal Self-Efficacy and the Home Literacy Environment: A Study of Families Within Head Start Programs

• In Event: Poster Session 5
  In Poster Session: Literacy Research Issues in the 21st Century

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the role of maternal self-efficacy on mothers’ perceptions of children’s reading readiness and home literacy environments. Participants included 112 children and 112 mothers who were enrolled in Head Start Programs. Findings showed that maternal self-efficacy showed a direct influence on formal and informal child home learning activity and home learning environment, as measured by Stipek home learning activities and HLEP respectively. However, maternal self-efficacy was not directly related to home reading activities as measured by SBFRS, but showed an indirect relationship via mothers' child-readiness perception. Interestingly, neither the HLEP nor SBFRS showed direct relationships with vocabulary skills as measured by PPVT-III. Only the Stipek was significantly related to child vocabulary.

Authors

• Kathryn Bojczyk

• Heather Rogers Haverback, Towson University

• Verda Rana

• Hye K. Pae, University of Cincinnati