2022 Volume 36 Issue 1 Pages 80-92
Purpose
To clarify the relationship of mother–daughter intergenerational succession of generativity, which involves concerns toward nurturing the next generation, with health literacy and health of female college students.
Methods
A descriptive, cross-sectional study based on a questionnaire survey. Setting: Seven Japanese colleges chosen through non-random convenience sampling. Participants: Female nursing students (n = 561), female non-medical students (n = 586), and their mothers. Outcome Measures: For mothers, the Generativity Scale was used. For the students, the Generativity Scale for Student were used, Health Literacy Scale for Women of Reproductive Age and the Short Form-8.
Results
Valid responses were received from 153 pairs (13%) of female students and their mothers, consisting of 52% (80/153) non-medical students and 48% (73/153) nursing students. The students' age ranged from 18–29 years, and mothers' from 39–62 years. A multiple group covariance structure analysis showed significant paths in both non-medical and nursing students, indicating that mothers' “Generative concerns” enhanced students' “Intergenerational succession of wisdom,” “Self-care of menstruation,” “Knowledge of female body,” and “Choice of female health information and practice.” Among non-medical students, a path lowering “Mental component summary” (β = −.35, p < .05, R2 = .21) was demonstrated from “Self-care of menstruation.”
Conclusions
It was confirmed that when mothers had a high level of “Generative concerns,” students' “Intergenerational succession of wisdom” and health literacy of women of reproductive age increased.
