2015 年 81 巻 1 号 p. 15-27
We aimed to determine the relation between child-rearing stress and self-efficacy as factors related to postnatal depression ; this will facilitate healthy child development and provide maternal support, thus decreasing the incidence rate of postnatal depression.
We used the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS) and the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) to assess maternal mental health and self-efficacy, respectively. Eleven child-rearing stress categories were specified based on a previous research. Of 865 mothers up to 4 months post-delivery, 459 (52.1%) responded ; 415 valid responses were analyzed.
Eighty-eight mothers (21.2%) had EPDS scores of 9 or more and 192 mothers (46.2%) had“low” or“somewhat low” GSES points. GSES was significantly low (p<0.001) in the EPSD 9 or more group, and child-rearing stress points were significantly high (p<0.001), confirming the relationship between GSES and child-rearing stress as factors related to EPDS. The high EPDS group experienced intense child-rearing stress due to lack of child-rearing confidence ; this is attributed to declining birth rates and increasing nuclearization of families that result in many women without any child-rearing experience. This significantly influences maternal mental health. As mental health support for mothers, early support by home visits is a critical plan element. Examining not only their mental health status but details of their child-rearing stress and confidence in childcare is considered to provide effective support.