Mothers’ Child-rearing Stress and Coping Behaviors from One Month to Four Months after Childbirth

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to clarify mothers’ child-rearing stress and coping behaviors from one month to four months after childbirth.

Methods: We interviewed mothers who underwent a four-month checkup of their child at their health and welfare center. The mothers were between the ages of 20–34 years and had given birth to full-term infants. They also belonged to a nuclear family. The study method was based on semi-structured interviews. We analyzed the data using a qualitative descriptive research method.

Results: Eleven mothers participated in this study. Mothers faced child-rearing stress of “distress about breastfeeding,” “the burden of keeping up with my child’s pace,” “overwhelmed by rearing two children,” and “taking on child-rearing by myself and feeling under pressure.” When mothers had these stresses, they coped by “depending on people around” or “dealing and solving the stress alone.”

Conclusion: This study suggests that it is important for healthcare workers to focus on whether the mother takes appropriate coping behavior, recognizing that any mother will have child-rearing stress, and providing specific information on how to receive professional support when needed, along with the content of child-rearing stress.