Study on the relationship of various factors comprising a sense of satisfaction from child rearing and assessment of the marital relationship as pertains to primiparas

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the present study is to clarify whether or not there is any difference in scores of the various factors comprising a sense of satisfaction gained from child rearing in the groups of primiparas who had high and low assessments of their Marital relationship during the initial stage of childrearing. Methods: The subjects were 100 primiparas who gave birth at general hospitals in Tokyo, and were mothering an infant that was 2~3 months old. The survey comprised (1) demographic data (age, number of hours of sleep per night, EPDS, etc.); (2) scale measuring assessment of the relationship between husband and wife (Marital Love Scale); and (3) questionnaires and scales measuring various factors comprising the sense of satisfaction gained from child rearing [fatigue (inquiring about subjective symptoms), self-efficacy (general self-efficacy scale), self-efficacy pertaining to childcare (primary factor of the scale measuring positive feelings toward child rearing during puerperal period), questionnaire assessing husband's social support, acceptance of the maternal role (maternal consciousness scale), parental behavioral index (PBI)]. Results: The results of the 93 subjects providing valid responses (93%) were analyzed statistically. When the group having a high evaluation score of the Marital relationship was compared against the group having a low evaluation score, sleep time was significantly shorter, but other background elements were almost the same. When the group having a high evaluation score of the Marital relationship was compared against the group having a low evaluation score, of the six factors comprising a sense of satisfaction gained from child rearing, the evaluation scores for the husband's social support (mental support; p=.000, informational support; t=3.81, p=.000, and instrumental support; p=.006), self-efficacy score (p=.040), and the score for positive and affirmative acceptance of the maternal role (p=.004) were significantly higher. Conclusion: When the mother's feeling of satisfaction gained from child rearing during the child rearing period is viewed from the perspective of how the Marital relationship is assessed, if the mother has high regard for the Marital relationship, it is believed that she will then have highly positive feelings toward child rearing. Consequently, it is regarded as necessary that nurses not only provide instruction in specific child rearing methods, but that, along with the coping ability which the mother had developed, nurses need to take an interest in the Marital relationship, and convey the importance of communication between husband and wife within the context of childcare support.