Longitudinal Study on Change of Self Concept for 2 Years after Delivery : A relationship between self concept and factors of birth and childcare

Abstract

Purpose : To examine change of self concept for 2 years after delivery and to analyze effects of birth and childcare on the self concept. Design : Longitudinal study. Three OB-GYN general hospitals in Kyoto and Osaka Prefectures were selected in order to collect data. Consent for study participation was obtained from 440 women after delivery. Methods : The participants completed questionnaires four times (24 hours, 5 day, 1 month, 1〜2 years after delivery). Completed questionnaires were returned by hands (the first two occasions) and by mail (the rest). The survey was consisted of "Self Esteem Scale" (SE) by Rosenberg, "A Scale to Measure Sex-Role Orientation" (ISRO) by Dreyer, and questions on birth and childcare factors. Results : 1) One hundred and ninety five women returned the valid answers (a recovery rate : 44.3%). The primiparas accounted for 51.3% of the sample and 48.7% of the sample were multiparas. The average of their age was 29.0±3.7 years. 2) The average scores of active SE and passive SE in primiparas were higher than those in multiparas, especially the score of active SE in primiparas was significantly higher than that in multiparas. 3) The three ISRO scores ; (1) roles of man's and woman' s labor at home, (2) conflict between childcare and carrier, and (3) labor outside home at one month after delivery were higher than those at 1〜2 years in both primiparas and multiparas. Especially, the score of labor outside home significantly increased at l〜2 years. 4) The birth factors which influenced low score SE were the groups with unsatisfactory birth (primiparas) and with heavy birth (multiparas). The birth factors which influenced high score SE were the groups with delightful childcare, husband' s participation in childcare (multiparas) and with no or seldom anxiety or trouble in childcare. 5) In the primiparas and multiparas with occupation, the scores of conflict between childcare and carrier, and labor outside home were significantly higher. They seem to have anti-traditional philosophy. In the multiparas who give breast milk, the score of conflict between childcare and carrier was significantly higher. These results indicated that SE was closely related to birth and childcare. Sex-Role Orientation was related to occupation, birth and breast milk.