母親の育児ネットワークに関する国内文献の動向と課題

抄録

In Japan, there is a growing concern about the isolation of mothers in child-rearing due to the declining birthrate, the increasing prevalence of nuclear families, and the weakening of ties with local communities.

In response, I aimed to identify issues in childcare support by reviewing previous research on mothers’childcare networks and deriving suggestions for future studies. I conducted a literature search using CiNii and the Web-based version of the Central Medical Journal. A total of 175 pieces of literature related tochild-rearing networks, published between 1989 to 2022, were analyzed. Among them, 106 original research papers were classified based on their content, using titles and abstracts as references.

These papers were grouped into six categories: [The Reality of Childcare Networks], [The Effects of Childcare Networks], [Supporters of Childcare Networks], [The Place of Childcare Networks], [Formation of Childcare Networks], and [Socialization of Childcare].

The effects of Childcare Networks are believed to include maintaining mothers’ well-being and supporting their personal development. Research focusing on supporters of child-rearing networks highlights the need for inter-professional collaboration, given the involvement of a diverse range of individuals. Additionally, the “place” of mothers' networks is evolving alongside social changes, indicating a need for research that incorporates the Internet environment. Furthermore, greater attention should be given to mothers' active connections, often conceptualized as social capital.