Household responsibilities in the family of origin: Relations with self-efficacy in young adulthood

Undergraduate students (N = 280, M age = 20.6 years) completed self-report measures of general and work self-efficacy, quality of relationships with parents, and household responsibilities while growing up. Results indicate positive correlations between household responsibilities (housework chores, running errands) and general and work self-efficacy; and between quality of relationships with parents and self-efficacy. Age at beginning self-care and housework tasks are predictive of general self-efficacy for women, and housework and age at beginning chores are predictive of women’s work self-efficacy; for men, running errands predicts greater general and work self-efficacy. Self-efficacy is predicted by household responsibilities even when relationships with parents are considered. Potential processes underlying relations between household responsibilities and self-efficacy development are discussed.