[A self-conceptual descriptive study of childrearing women and their family--analyses of "the self as a mother" and "the self as an individual with a life of their own"].
A retrospective exploratory-descriptive design was used to describe the modern Japanese women's self-concept during the early stages of childrearing. The purpose of this research was to explore how a Japanese woman's self-concept changes after she becomes a mother. Seven women, aged 28 to 38, from a purpose sample, were interviewed at home using the-semi-structured interview guide. The core category, "someone needs me", provided the more significant indicator of women's self-concept, reflecting the importance of their existence to others. Findings indicated that the modern Japanese woman seeks to be needed by two parties: their children and society. One of these needs originates in the self as a mother. The other originates in the self as an individual with a life of their own. In the acceptance, through family life, of the fulfillment of the two selves,: "myself needed by my child" and "myself needed by society", the self-concept of modern Japanese women during the early stages of childrearing was defined.
Yamazaki
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Special Division of the Science of Midwifery College of Medical Technology, Kyoto University.
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002668:Child Rearing / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012649:Self Concept; D012945:Social Values; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires