Value of a Child for Women

Why Have a Child Now?

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to examine the value of having a child for Japanese mothers in the context of the population revolution. Mothers were asked why they had decided to have a child their answeres were related to mothers' cohort (older vs. younger), number of children, and tendency towards individualizaion. Five factors were identified: 1) emotional value, 2) self-enhancement value, 3) social value, 4) dependence on the condition, and 5) child support system. The first three are concerned with psychological value of the child the last two relate to child care. All 3 psychological values were evaluated highly in both cohort groups, especially self-enhancement value. Social value was more highly recognized among the older cohort, dependence on the condition more strongly in the younger mothers. The mothers' tendency toward individualizaion was significantly related to their attitudes toward their child: the stronger the tendency toward individualizaion, the lower the mothers' evaluation of the value of the child, and the higher the tendency to recognize dependence on the condition.