Child-Rearing Attributions and Efficacy among Mexican Mothers and Teachers

Abstract

The relationship between efficacy and attributions concerning child rearing was investigated in the present study by interviewing 36 mothers and 32 teachers in Mexico. It was hypothesized that, within the interdependent social structure of Mexico, high efficacy would be associated with external rather than with internal attributions. The association between efficacy and both the number of and complexity of attributions was also assessed. No relationship was found between locus of causality (i.e., internal vs. external) and efficacy. High efficacy was associated with giving more attributions, and using more complex (i.e., both internal and external) attributions. The relationship between number of attributions and efficacy remained significant after occupational status and education level were partialled out. These findings suggest that caregivers' attributions may be related to feeling efficacious, but that the social context must be considered in evaluating the likely impact of attributions and other social cognitions on efficacy and motivated behavior.