2004 Volume 18 Issue 2 Pages 99-110
The purpose of this research is (1) to find out whether differences in roles of mothers and fathers that are caused by family structure (on the premises of having working mothers) are recognized or not. Common characteristics in categorized groups are also examined here. This research is also aimed at (2) examining correlations with patterns of manners while holding infants, and a couple's role in child rearing. I have performed behavioral observations and interview surveys in natural and spontaneous situations with seven married couples (14 people) who have infants. The observations and interviews were performed at the first period (infant 1～2 months old) and the second period (infant 6～7month old). As I categorized patterns of manners while holding infants (analysis 1), two groups for the first period (a wide variation group 1, and a fixed variation group 1) and three groups for the second period (a wide variation group 2, a fixed variation group 2, and a playing group) were found. Most of the mothers'patterns while holding manners belong to the fixed variation group, and I found little individual variation. The fathers' patterns while holding manners were divided into three groups, and individual variations were recognized. The differences in roles of mothers and fathers that are caused by family structure did not explain the patterns of mothers' and fathers' holding manners. As a result of examining correlations with patterns of manners while holding infants and the couples' role taking in child rearing, I found three unique agreements in the couples' roles in child rearing.
