2022 Volume 73 Issue 10 Pages 597-603
Adherence to "maternal love" has been studied in parents with small children but not in detail with university students. One- and two-factor models have been proposed, but the better option has not been identified. This study investigated these models and examined differences related to gender and students' majors. University students (N = 661) participated in the study. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the two-factor model fit the indexes better than the one-factor model. A two-way ANOVA found early childhood education and care (ECEC) students were stronger in their "justification of child-rearing by women" than students of other majors. Moreover, female students more strongly believed in "the sanctity of motherly love" than male students. These results demonstrated essential characteristics of adherence to "maternal love" in university students.
