Parental Self-Efficacy in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Preliminary Findings by the Italian Version of the CAPES-DD.

The Italian version of the Child Adjustment and Parent Efficacy Scale-Developmental Disability (CAPES-DD; [1]) is presented in the study. The questionnaire (24 items) links the parent’s perceptions of the severity of child’s behavioral-emotional problems (intensity scale) with self-confidence in managing those problems (self-efficacy scale). The questionnaire was administered to 60 parents of children (2-16 years old) with diagnosed Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and to 50 parents of typically developed children. Parents also filled a questionnaire assessing Parental Efficacy and Satisfaction (PSOC) and a screening tool for child’s internalizing/externalizing problems (SDQ). The results evidence that this Italian version of the CAPES-DD is adequate for reliability (α=.96). For convergent validity, CAPES-DD self-efficacy scale positively correlates with PSOC, and CAPES-DD child’s problem intensity scale with corresponding SDQ. PSE scores result lower in parents of ASD children, and negative correlations emerge among PSE levels and intensity of child’s problems. The feasible applications of the CAPES-DD in assessing caregiver’s adjustment to child’s developmental disability and in planning parent training programs are discussed.