Abstract
Maternal self-construal was regarded as a cognitive variable that influences distress, according to Lazarus and Folkman's (1984) stress model. Mothers of 2-6 year-old children (N=272) completed a questionnaire. A regression analysis indicated that independent self-construal related negatively and their interdependent self-construal positively to distress, controlling for perceived social support. However, mothers' independent/interdependent self-construal was not related to their perceived social support. These results suggest the need for a new approach to alter mothers' self-construal to reduce their distress.
