2005 Volume 19 Issue 2 Pages 128-140
Mothers sometimes have a feeling of pity for their children, partly, for example, because they think that their own behavior may cause problems for their children or because they feel that their behavior may be totally inappropriate in the child-rearing situation. Mothers' guilt (MOG) is defined as such emotions toward their children. This study constructed a scale to measure MOG, and examined whether a relationship exists between the scores of the MOG scale (MOGS) and the mothers' employment situation. In the first study, a factor analysis on the data of 396 mothers showed three factors : “denying a motivation of the child”, “failing to fulfill their a role as mcther” , “foiling to take care of the child adequately”. Analysis of MOGS showed that it had sufficient internal consistency and test-retest reliability. In addition, MOGS scores had positive correlations with “submission” and “control” of child-rearing attitudes. These findings showed considerable constructive validity for MOGS. In the second study, results showed that non-workers' MOG was the strongest of the three, and part-time workers' MOG was stronger than full-time workers'. The first and the second factors related to the mother's employment situation, but the third factor did not relate to the employment situation.
