Poster #90 - Employment, Income, and Health-related QOL among mothers caring for children with disabilities in Japan

• In Event: 3-206 - Poster Session 13
  In Poster Session: PS 13 Section - Family Context & Processes

Integrative Statement

During the last two decades, studies have reported that mothers caring for children with disabilities showed lower workforce participation, lower income, and lower mental health status than other working-age mothers (e.g., Bourke-Taylor et al., 2011). However, these studies have mostly been conducted in western counties; little is known about these issues in East Asia, including in Japan. In addition, factors associated with employment of these mothers have not been well investigated in Asian countries. To examine these issues, we administered a questionnaire survey to mothers caring for children with disabilities in Japan. Data were collected from 243 Japanese mothers caring for school-aged children (6 to 18 years old) who attended Special Education Needs Schools for intellectually disabled children. In analysis, the mothers’ employment and annual family income were compared with those of other Japanese mothers in the same age group using population data. The participants’ health-related quality of life (HrQOL) scores as measured through the SF-8 health survey (Japanese version) were also compared with the standard scores among Japanese women in the same age group (Fukuhara & Suzukamo, 2004). In addition, multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine factors associated with mothers’ employment status (employed vs. non-employed). The employment rate of mothers with children with disabilities in our sample was significantly lower (49%) than that of other Japanese mothers with school-aged children who lived in the same region (71%). About 62% of mothers in our sample belonged to the low/lower-middle income group, whereas 33% of all Japanese families rearing children belonged to that group. As for HrQOL, the mothers’ average mental health summary scores were significantly lower than those of Japanese women in the same age group (40-49 years old). Regression analysis showed that the mothers’ single-parent-status, better health, better education, use of paid childcare services, and children’s age (>12 years old) were positively associated with their workforce participation. In particular, mothers’ better health was strongly associated with their paid employment. In conclusion, consistent with previous studies conducted in western countries, mothers caring for children with disabilities in Japan showed lower employment, lower income, and lower mental health than other Japanese mothers. Considering that nearly 60% of unemployed mothers in our sample expressed a desire for paid employment, further maternal health care and social support and services are needed to enhance these mothers’ workforce participation. In addition, given these families’ relatively lower incomes, further financial support should be provided for them.

Authors

• Keiko Ejiri, Ibaraki Christian University
  Presenting Author

• Akemi Matsuzawa, Ibaraki Christian University
  Non-Presenting Author