Child-rearing anxiety and its correlates among Japanese mothers screened at 18-month infant health checkups.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the level of child-rearing anxiety and to explore the variables correlated with child-rearing anxiety in a city in Japan.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
From July to September 2003, 371 mothers who visited community health centers in a city in Tokyo Metropolis for their child's 18-month health checkups.


METHODS
Child-rearing anxiety was measured by the child-rearing anxiety scale. Questions in a self-reported questionnaire were on maternal variables, including maternal background information, child variables, and family system variables such as the presence of social support, and utilization of parenting support services. Also included within the questionnaire was the General Health Questionnaire-12.


RESULTS
Hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis revealed that mothers with higher child-rearing anxiety had less childcare satisfaction, more depressive symptoms, more worries about the child, less support from the husband, and less social support.


CONCLUSIONS
To identify mothers with high child-rearing anxiety in Japan, the infant health checkups should be utilized as an opportunity for screening, focusing on variables regarding mothers. Public health nurses can provide the necessary support after gaining an understanding of issues confronting mothers to prevent child-rearing anxiety and child abuse.
Arimoto
Azusa
A
Department of Community Health Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. azusay-tky@umin.ac.jp
Murashima
Sachiyo
S
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003151:Community Health Centers; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D011637:Public Health Nursing; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014041:Tokyo