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Childcare arrangements as correlates of maternal parenting behaviours and affects
Author
Hong, Christabel Seok Ai
Supervisor
Soh, Kay Cheng
Abstract
This study investigates parenting behaviours and maternal affects of 191 mothers of primary school children aged seven 12. There are 27% mothers with maids, 39% mothers with children in Before and After School Care (BASC) and 34% full -time mothers. Questionnaires and interviews gathered information on the perceptions of mothers on parenting behaviours, maternal as well as on childcare, the child and herself.
The three groups of mothers cited overall development and child's personality as the two most important factors in deciding how they wanted their children to be cared for. Full -time mothers cited financial considerations while the working mothers (i.e. mothers with maids and BASC mother) cited caregiver's dependability as the next most important factor.
The three groups of mothers were similar in affection, parent-child bonding and parenting behaviour towards child's education. However, working mothers differed significantly from full-time mothers in the use of authority, parental satisfaction, life fulfillment, guilt and anger.
1. Full-time mothers had the highest mean for positive use of authority, parental satisfaction and life fulfillment.
2. Mothers with maids had the lowest mean for parental satisfaction and highest for guilt.
3. BASC mothers had the lowest mean for positive use of authority, life fulfillment and anger.
All the mothers in this study seemed overloaded with the responsibilities of child's schoolwork and personal needs while fathers played a bigger role in recreation and discipline.
Mothers with maids were significantly different from BASC mothers and full-time mothers in the areas of meals and discipline. Meals were prepared mainly by the maids rather than the mothers. Also, for families with maids, there was a significantly higher percentage of fathers involved in discipline compared to the other two groups.
The three groups of mothers cited overall development and child's personality as the two most important factors in deciding how they wanted their children to be cared for. Full -time mothers cited financial considerations while the working mothers (i.e. mothers with maids and BASC mother) cited caregiver's dependability as the next most important factor.
The three groups of mothers were similar in affection, parent-child bonding and parenting behaviour towards child's education. However, working mothers differed significantly from full-time mothers in the use of authority, parental satisfaction, life fulfillment, guilt and anger.
1. Full-time mothers had the highest mean for positive use of authority, parental satisfaction and life fulfillment.
2. Mothers with maids had the lowest mean for parental satisfaction and highest for guilt.
3. BASC mothers had the lowest mean for positive use of authority, life fulfillment and anger.
All the mothers in this study seemed overloaded with the responsibilities of child's schoolwork and personal needs while fathers played a bigger role in recreation and discipline.
Mothers with maids were significantly different from BASC mothers and full-time mothers in the areas of meals and discipline. Meals were prepared mainly by the maids rather than the mothers. Also, for families with maids, there was a significantly higher percentage of fathers involved in discipline compared to the other two groups.
Date Issued
2001
Call Number
HQ759 Hon
Date Submitted
2001