Parenting difficulty of mothers : A concept analysis

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze the concept of "parenting difficulty" experienced by mother with infants and to reveal its definition and components. Methods: Rodgers' concept analysis was used as a framework to analyze the concept of "parenting difficulty". Antecedents, attributes and consequences were analyzed from descriptive data and the concept was defined. Four attributes were extracted from the "state of continued parenting stress": "confusion about appropriate child-rearing", "distress regarding actual child-rearing", "burden and fatigue from child-rearing", and "conflict with family and/or neighbors". The one attribute extracted from "state of poor child-rearing" was "abuse and/or behavior close to abuse". Seven of twelve antecedents were extracted as mother's factor. Three consequences were extracted. The present findings show that effective preventive intervention for parenting difficulty of mother could lead to prevention for child abuse and developmental delays. This concept could be used for early screening and preventive intervention for mothers who worry about having parenting difficulty.