Maternal confidence in toddlerhood: its measurement for clinical practice and research.

There are currently no measures of maternal confidence specifically for the developmental issues that arise in children between 12 months and 36 months of age. Yet, maternal confidence has been correlated with indices of maternal and child competence. The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of the Toddler Care Questionnaire (TCQ), a measure of maternal confidence in toddlerhood, for use in clinical and research settings. The data provide strong evidence that the TCQ is a reliable instrument and has validity among middle-class mothers of toddlers. The data are discussed in terms of their clinical significance and directions for future research.