2019 Volume 11 Issue 1 Pages 1_12-1_21
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between mothers’ positive child-rearing feelings and social capital (SC) of mothers, and to consider adequate child-rearing support measures within the community culture of various regions.
We selected 3 regions with different degrees of social capital in Japan based on a Cabinet Office survey (2003), and conducted an anonymous self-administered questionnaire survey for mothers having 2 to 3-year-old children at nursery schools or other facilities. Chi-square test was used to compare SC, and the Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare mothers’ positive child-rearing feelings among the 3 regions. For multiple logistic regression analysis, positive feelings on child-rearing were set as dependent variables, after adjusting personal attributes for each region.
Significant regional differences of SC were noted regarding mothers’ awareness of mutual aid and regional community activities. However, no significant regional differences were found in mothers’ positive feelings on child-rearing. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that, in a high SC region, positive child-rearing feelings were higher in mothers aware of mutual trust than those who were not with an odds ratio of 3.11; while the odds ratio was 3.34 in an intermediate SC region. In the high SC region, mothers who participate in regional activities had positive feelings about child-rearing, with an odds ratio of 2.06.
The SC related to positive feelings of mothers during child-rearing varies depending on regional community culture; thus, adequate child-rearing support measures are considered necessary based on regional cultural aspect.
