A Psychometric Evaluation of the Parent Self-efficacy in Managing the Transition to School Scale

The psychometric properties of the Parent Self-efficacy in Managing the Transition to School Scale (PSMTSS) were investigated with a sample of 763 mothers whose children were starting primary school in Australia. Exploratory factor analysis identified two factors, Efficacy and Worry, accounting for 56.6% of the total variance in parent selfefficacy scores. These factors were demonstrated to have excellent internal consistency. Convergent validity of the PSMTSS was established using the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale (PSOC) as a criterion measure. Finally, preliminary analyses reveal a significant relationship between parent self-efficacy to manage the transition to school and children’s school adjustment outcomes. Implications for future school transition and parental self-efficacy research are discussed.