The Characteristics and the Present Situations of Japanese Couples in Child-Rearing Period
Author(s)
Moe Onojima
ABSTRACT
This study aims to find the characteristics of Japanese couples in child-rearing period through surveying Japanese studies of the couples and to discuss the present situation and the future of them in Japan in terms of psychological viewpoint. 115 studies which are found from the Japanese database of CiNii and Ichu-shi are classified into 4 main themes: 1) the role, 2) husband’s support, 3) marital relationship, and 4) child-rearing stress and child-rearing anxiety. Results show 1) wife mainly carries parental role and though husband wants to participate in child-rearing, he can’t because of working time, 2) mental support from husband and couple’s communication reduce child-rearing stress, 3) wife’s satisfaction with marital relationship dramatically decreases in child-rearing period, and 4) how to feel child-rearing stress depends on working s. The facts that wife’s satisfaction of marital relationship dramatically decreases in the child-rearing period and that wife mainly carries child-rearing work are common characteristics of the child-rearing period. On the other hands, little time of husband’s participation in child-rearing is remarkable characteristic of Japan. From this characteristic, the problem that Japanese social support for couples in child-rearing period isn’t enough can be pointed out. In Japanese current situation, couples need to have time to communicate and to share the idea of child-rearing to maintain good marital relationship in child-rearing period.
This study aims to find the characteristics of Japanese couples in child-rearing period through surveying Japanese studies of the couples and to discuss the present situation and the future of them in Japan in terms of psychological viewpoint. 115 studies which are found from the Japanese database of CiNii and Ichu-shi are classified into 4 main themes: 1) the role, 2) husband’s support, 3) marital relationship, and 4) child-rearing stress and child-rearing anxiety. Results show 1) wife mainly carries parental role and though husband wants to participate in child-rearing, he can’t because of working time, 2) mental support from husband and couple’s communication reduce child-rearing stress, 3) wife’s satisfaction with marital relationship dramatically decreases in child-rearing period, and 4) how to feel child-rearing stress depends on working s. The facts that wife’s satisfaction of marital relationship dramatically decreases in the child-rearing period and that wife mainly carries child-rearing work are common characteristics of the child-rearing period. On the other hands, little time of husband’s participation in child-rearing is remarkable characteristic of Japan. From this characteristic, the problem that Japanese social support for couples in child-rearing period isn’t enough can be pointed out. In Japanese current situation, couples need to have time to communicate and to share the idea of child-rearing to maintain good marital relationship in child-rearing period.
Cite this paper
Onojima, M. (2015) The Characteristics and the Present Situations of Japanese Couples in Child-Rearing Period. Psychology, 6, 1297-1304. doi: 10.4236/psych.2015.610126.
Onojima, M. (2015) The Characteristics and the Present Situations of Japanese Couples in Child-Rearing Period. Psychology, 6, 1297-1304. doi: 10.4236/psych.2015.610126.
References
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1300/J002v12n03_08 [4] Cabinet Office (2004). Public Opinion Survey on a Gender-Equal Society.
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[1] Araki, M., Oishi, K., Iwaki, H., Watanabe, S., Ikeda, S. Tatsuda, S., & Ogawa, Y. (2001). Association between Social Support to Mothers in the Nursing Stage and Stress. Bulletin of the School of Allied Medical Sciences, Nagasaki University, 14, 89-95. [2] Aramaki, M., & Muto, T. (2008). Factors Related to Negative and Positive Feelings about Child-Rearing: A Survey of Mothers of Young Children. Japan Society of Developmental Psychology, 19, 87-97. [3] Belsky, J., & Pensky, E. (1988). Marital Change across the Transition to Parenthood. Marriage and Family Review, 12, 133-156.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1300/J002v12n03_08 [4] Cabinet Office (2004). Public Opinion Survey on a Gender-Equal Society.
http://www.gender.go.jp/about_danjo/whitepaper/h16/gaiyou/html/honpen/chap01_03.html [5] Cabinet Office (2010). Public Opinion Survey on a Gender-Equal Society.
http://www.gender.go.jp/about_danjo/whitepaper/h22/gaiyou/index.html [6] Cabinet Office (2013). Public Opinion Survey on a Gender-Equal Society.
http://www.gender.go.jp/about_danjo/whitepaper/h24/gaiyou/index.html [7] Fukuda, N. (2003). Comparing Family-Friendly Policies in Japan and Europe: Are We in the Same or in a Different League. Journal of Population and Social Security, 1, 31-45. [8] Hatsutsuka, M., & Ishida, M. (1996). Mental Stress on Parents as a Result of their Child Rearing in Connection with the Mother’s Employment Status. Bulletin of Osaka University, 45, 31-42. [9] Ito, N., Beppu, S., Miyamoto, S., & Miyamoto, M. (1998). Stability and Change in Marriage across the Transition to Parenthood in Japan. Annual Report of the Faculty of Education, Gifu University. Humanities and Social Sciences, 47, 207-214. [10] Kamiya, T. (2006). An Idiographic Approach to Change of Parental Role Concepts in Married Couples. Journal of Regional Sciences, 2, 367-388. [11] Kamiya, T., & Kikuchi, T. (2004). Change of Parental Role Concepts in Married Couples. Journal of Japanese Association of Family Psychology, 18, 29-42. [12] Kosaka, C. (2007). The Attitude and Feelings of Childrearing in Full-Time Working Mothers of Young Children. Human Development Research, 19, 81-96. [13] Kubo, K. (2007). A Factor to Decide the Division of Child-Rearing Work of Full-Time Working Couple—Mainly about Child-Rearing Which Causes a Time Tangle of Work. Japan Society of Family Sociology, 19, 20-31.
http://dx.doi.org/10.4234/jjoffamilysociology.19.2_20 [14] Kuramochi, K., Tamura, T., Kubo, K., & Oikawa, Y. (2007). Changes in Couple’s Attitude along the Child Development. Journal of the Japan Society of Home Economics, 58, 389-396. [15] Maruyama, N., Hamada, M., Ota, A., & Takeuchi, S. (2002). Study about Role Tangle of Couple in Child-Rearing Period— Especially the Case of Full-Time Working Wife and Housewife. Japan Society of Research on Early Childhood Care and Education, 55, 854-855. [16] Matsumura, T. (2006). A Study of the Relation with Husband and Mother’s Emotion in Child-Rearing Period (Impulsive Feeling and Child-Rearing Anxiety). Mie Nursing Journal, 6, 11-20. [17] Mitsui (Nakaura), Y. & Kita, J. (2005). Father’s Participation in Family Role and Its Predictors in the Early Child Care Period of the First Child. Bulletin of Faculty of Medical Health in Kobe University, 21, 63-77. [18] Mori, Y. (2012). Relation between Reason to Choice Woman’s Life Course and Satisfaction with Marital Relationship. Studies of Japanese Association of Educational Psychology, 54, 143. [19] Motoyasu, K., & Yaegashi, M. (2002). A Study on Relation between Mothers’ Anxiety to Raising Children and Working Situation. Journal of Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, 12, 219-239. [20] Nagata, M., Nakamichi, Y., Noguchi, Y., & Hirata, N. (2011). Childrearing Stress Coping Strategies in Mothers at 1 and 4 Months Postpartum: Positivity in Childrearing. Japan Society of Maternal Health, 54, 609-615. [21] Nakagama, H., Nozue, T., Nunoshiba, Y., & Muto, K. (2008). Family Psychology: Development of Family System and Clinical Support. Tokyo: Yuikaku Books. [22] Nakagawa, M. (2010). Wives’ Maternal Gatekeeping and Their Husbands’ Involvement in Childcare and Housework with Children under 12 Years Old. Japan Society of Family Sociology, 22, 201-212.
http://dx.doi.org/10.4234/jjoffamilysociology.22.201 [23] Niwano, A. (2008). The Case Study about Interplay between Work and Family—A Tangle and Mutual Promotion Which Occur in a Process of Balancing the Two. PROCEEDINGS, 3, 35-46. [24] Onodera, A. (2005). Marital Changes during the Transition to Parenthood. Human Development Research, 16, 15-25. [25] Sagara, J., Ito, Y., & Ikeda, M. (2008). Relationship between Marital Satisfaction of Married Couples, and Discrepancies between Ideals and Realities of Sharing of Housework and Child-Raising. Japanese Association of Family Psychology, 22, 119-128. [26] Sato, Y. (2013). Families of Preschoolers: Their Life and Psychology. Bulletin of Kamakura Women’s University, 20, 1-10. [27] Shimizu, N., Sumioka, R., Kishihara, M., & Manabe, E. (2008). Child-Rearing Fathers’ Stressors, Stress-Responses and Stress-Copings during Childcare Period. Bulletin of Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 17, 79-86. [28] Taga, F. (2005). Contradictions in the Gender Division of Labor and the Father’s Role. Kansai Sociological Review, 4, 48-56. [29] Tanaka, K. (2010). Changes in Father’s Behavior in Child Rearing and Housekeeping and Husband’s Satisfaction of the Relationship between Husband and Wife and the Correlation with the 6-th Mother’s Stress in Child Rearing. Annual Report of Faculty of Human culture, 25, 125-134. [30] Watanabe, T., & Higai, S. (2004). Studies on a View on Share of Role and the Satisfaction of Role with Husband and Wife for Child-Care. Yamanashi Nursing Journal, 2, 37-44. [31] Yaegashi, M., & Ogawa, T. (2002). A Study on Relation between Mothers’ Anxiety to Raising Children and Working Situations. Journal of Kawasaki Medical Welfare Society, 219-239.