Abstract
Delivery and subsequent child care are major development processes during which a woman becomes a mother. Therefore, we followed up 323 couples (55.5%) of parents 1, 10, and 18 months after childbirth for changes in the mother's consciousness and effects of factors of the father in primiparas and multiparas. The total score of mother's consciousness was highest 1 month after birth and decreased significantly after 10 and 18 months in both the primiparas and multiparas. In the primiparas, the score of mother's consciousness was lower 1 month after childbirth but became significantly higher after 10 and 18 months than in the multiparas. The total score of the couple relationship decreased with time. It was higher in the primiparas than in the multiparas, and the differences were significant 1 and 18 months after childbirth. No change was observed in the scores of non-depression, sexrole orientation, and self-esteem among the 3 investigation points. In the fathers, the father's consciousness increased significantly. Although their housework decreased after childbirth, the score of child care by the father increased after 10 months and decreased after 18 months. High mother's consciousness was closely correlated with high non-depression, high self-esteem, good couple relationship, and high father's consciousness. The results in the multiparas were similar to those in the primiparas. These results suggest that depression and self-esteem of the mother, couple relationship, and involvement of the father in child care promote the development of the mother's consciousness.
