Poster #60 - Parenting support needs for mothers based on their psychological trait types

• In Event: Poster Session 19

Abstract

In human development, around the age of three is a well-known period of increased rebellion and defiant attitudes. Parenting stress and risk of child abuse remarkably increase during this period (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan, 2021; Araki, 2015). Noteworthy, however, not all caregivers experience high parenting stress or low parenting self-efficacy during this period; large individual differences exist (Mulsow et al., 2002; Mazur, 2006). Therefore, it is crucial to consider the appropriate parenting support depending on the mother’s individual psychological traits. From this viewpoint, we conducted an exploratory pilot study and determined (1) the types of maternal psychological traits that relate to a mother’s parenting stress, and (2) the parenting support required for each type.
Fifty-eight mothers with children aged 2–4 years participated in this study (M = 35.16 years, SD = 4.80 years). Parenting stress, psychological traits (i.e., temperament, sensory-processing sensitivity, parenting self-efficacy, image of parenting, and loneliness), household burdens, children’s discipline, parenting support needs (e.g., relieving the child’s crying), and socioeconomic status were assessed using a questionnaire administered in homes. To classify the mother’s trait types, we performed hierarchical clustering analysis using the Ward method with psychological traits indices. Subsequently, to establish the differences in respondents’ traits and parenting support needs by the cluster type, we compared the scores of each questionnaire using a Mann-Whitney U test.
Two types of mother’s traits were identified: negative trait-high stress (NH) type (N = 30) and positive trait-low stress (PL) type (N = 28). The NH-type was characterized by significantly higher scores for negative temperament, loneliness, negative image of parenting, and parenting stress (p < .05, r = .35～.85). The PL-type was characterized by significantly higher scores of parenting self-efficacy (p < .01, r = .52) and aesthetic sensitivity (p = .05, r = .25). Regarding the differences in stress levels and support needs, the NH-type recorded higher scores for parent’s overreacting to their child’s behavior and the amount of household burdens, and they had a higher need for relieving children's crying than the PL-type (p < .05, r = .32～.40). Furthermore, stressful situations for the NH-type included those in which their children rebelled during baths or to end play time (p < .05, r = .31). There was no significant difference in annual income between the two types.
These results suggest that the NH-type mothers especially need parenting support to relieve their children’s crying and that the support specific to reduce such parenting burden may be effective. By contrast, interventions for the PL-type mothers that promote positive communications with their children may be more effective than those for stress relief. It is important to innovate “individualized” parenting support methods that work effectively for diverse parents and children.

Authors

• Kaho Todoriki, Kyoto University
  Presenting Author

• Michiko Matsunaga, Kyoto University

• Masako Myowa, Kyoto University