The effect of maternal optimism on their happiness in child rearing

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop a scale measuring mothers' level of happiness in the daily events of child rearing and to investigate the effect of maternal optimism on their happiness in child rearing. Six hundred seventy-six mothers with toddlers (age one through preschool) completed a questionnaire containing scales on optimism, child-rearing happiness in daily events, happiness regarding child care, and feelings about child rearing. The main results were as follows: (1) factor analysis revealed that the “child-rearing happiness in daily events” scale consists of two factors, called “care giving” and “interacting with toddlers” and (2) regression analysis revealed that optimism is related to increased child-rearing happiness in daily events, happiness in child care, and positive feelings about child-rearing. Also, optimism decreases negative feelings about child-rearing. These results indicated that the “child-rearing happiness in daily events” scale can measure the degree of happiness felt by mothers in daily child rearing.