Abstract
Purpose
This study clarifies the structure of fathers' child-rearing behavior and awareness for late school-age children and examines the factors influencing it.
Method
With the consent of the collaborating elementary school, we distributed a questionnaire survey among the students. We obtained valid responses from 251 students and analyzed the data. We performed a factor analysis of fathers' child-rearing techniques from their responses on behavior and awareness. Then we determined the correlation coefficients of the "family factors," "work factors," and "personal factors" and examined the factors that influence fathers' child-rearing behavior and awareness. To determine the degree of this influence, we analyzed the variables in which the correlation was confirmed by a multiple regression analysis.
Results
The factor analysis of the fathers' child-rearing behavior and awareness for late school-age children determined that the first behavior factor is "management: request behavior for maturity" and the second "conversation: behavior of expression." The first awareness factor is "conversation: awareness of expression" and the second "management: awareness on request for maturity." We confirmed that both behavior and awareness have a high internal consistency. The factors that influence fathers' child-rearing behavior and awareness were the sense of the gender role, which is one of the "personal factors" that correlated with both the behavior and awareness factors, acceptance of the parent role, and the satisfaction with the marital relationship, which is one of the "family factors." To determine the level of influence of fathers' child-rearing behavior and awareness, we performed a multiple regression analysis of three variables in which correlations were observed, as independent variables. Results revealed that the factor that the most influential in fathers' child-rearing behavior and awareness was satisfaction with the marital relationship.
Conclusion
The fathers' child-rearing behavior with their late school-age children is the controlling behavior, such as enforcing social norms and basic life style. They are also aware of the responsiveness of communication involving cooperation with children. The factor that influences the fathers' child-rearing behavior and awareness the most was satisfaction with the marital relationship. Thus, the father's satisfaction with the relationship with his wife encouraged his involvement with the late school-age children's upbringing. Thus, the results suggest the need for support, including that of family members.
