A study of childcare beliefs as a A study of childcare beliefs as a function of mothers employmentfunction of mothers employment

Neeru SharmaNeeru SharmaSumati VaidSumati Vaid

Meenakshi SharmaMeenakshi SharmaDeptt of Home ScienceDeptt of Home Science

University of JammuUniversity of JammuJammuJammu

IntroductionIntroduction• ‘‘Care and development of children’ facing many challenges Care and development of children’ facing many challenges

which did not surface earlier because of :which did not surface earlier because of : * socio economic changes* socio economic changes

* break up of traditional families* break up of traditional families * raise in educational status of women* raise in educational status of women

* mother’s joining of labor force* mother’s joining of labor force

• In every social change there is a big lag between beliefs, In every social change there is a big lag between beliefs, attitudes and actions :attitudes and actions :

* idea of a career woman has to be accepted* idea of a career woman has to be accepted * No excuse from duties as a mom * No excuse from duties as a mom * No compromise for home life* No compromise for home life * Mother’s work is round the clock* Mother’s work is round the clock

•The term ‘working mother’ is a misnomer as mothers are working round the clock

•If the women elect to pursue a career their families have to be supportive

•Dual earner couples face many problems

• In the event of mothers absence from home the responsibility for child care falls on the elders, in a joint family

OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES

• To study the relation between family To study the relation between family demographic factors and the infants demographic factors and the infants age at initiation of non maternal age at initiation of non maternal care ,the hours in care, the type of care ,the hours in care, the type of care selected and the quality of carecare selected and the quality of care

• To study the mother’s child rearing To study the mother’s child rearing values, beliefs about the benefits and values, beliefs about the benefits and risks of employment and separation risks of employment and separation anxiety associated with timing, amount anxiety associated with timing, amount and quality of non maternal care.and quality of non maternal care.

METHODOLOGYMETHODOLOGY

• SAMPLE :SAMPLE :• 60 MOTHERS ( 30 EMPLOYED AND 30 NON EMPLOYED) 60 MOTHERS ( 30 EMPLOYED AND 30 NON EMPLOYED)

HAVING CHILDREN IN THE AGE GROUP OF 0-2 YEARSHAVING CHILDREN IN THE AGE GROUP OF 0-2 YEARS• Only mothers from urban areas of Jammu selectedOnly mothers from urban areas of Jammu selected• Only mothers who had attained at least graduation were selectedOnly mothers who had attained at least graduation were selected• Purposive sampling technique usedPurposive sampling technique used

• TOOLS USED:TOOLS USED:• Multidimensional parenting scale: By Dr. N. S Chauhan and Dr. Multidimensional parenting scale: By Dr. N. S Chauhan and Dr.

C.p Khokhar(1985)C.p Khokhar(1985)• Home observation scale: By Bradley and Caldwell(1979)Home observation scale: By Bradley and Caldwell(1979)• Rating scale for parental beliefsRating scale for parental beliefs• Interview ScheduleInterview Schedule

Methodolgy…..Methodolgy…..

• DATA COLLECTION:DATA COLLECTION:• HOME VISITSHOME VISITS

• DATA ANALYSIS:DATA ANALYSIS:• STATISTICAL AND CONTENT ANALYSISSTATISTICAL AND CONTENT ANALYSIS• MEANMEAN• STANDARD DEVIATIONSTANDARD DEVIATION• CHI SQUARECHI SQUARE• “ “t” TESTt” TEST

Results and DiscussionResults and Discussion

• Background Information:Background Information:

ResponsesResponses MeanMean

Age of the mother (years) 29

Education Graduation

Type of family Joint

Number of Children 1-2

Number of family members 3-5

Information regarding mothers Information regarding mothers employmentemployment

n=30n=30• Nature of job 6 daysNature of job 6 days 28(93) 28(93)

• No of working hours 4-6No of working hours 4-6 23(77) 23(77)

• Time in travelingTime in traveling 30 mins-1hr 23(77) 30 mins-1hr 23(77)

• IncomeIncome 1000-4000 1000-4000 12(40) 12(40) 7000-9000 7000-9000 15(50) 15(50)

• Child stays withChild stays with during mothers absence:during mothers absence: Paternal Grandparents 17(57)Paternal Grandparents 17(57) Maternal Grandparents Maternal Grandparents 5(17) 5(17) CrècheCrèche 7(23) 7(23)

Attitude towards maternal Attitude towards maternal employmentemployment

ResponsesResponses variablevariable N (%ages)N (%ages)Child’s age when non Child’s age when non maternal care beganmaternal care began

1-4 months1-4 months

5-8months5-8months

9-12 months9-12 months

15(50)15(50)

11(37)11(37)

4(13)4(13)

Time spent with Time spent with child(hrs)child(hrs)

4-84-8

9-139-1314(46)14(46)

12(40)12(40)

Childs reaction when Childs reaction when mother leavesmother leaves

NormalNormal

CriesCries15(50)15(50)

12(40)12(40)

Mothers attitude at Mothers attitude at separationseparation

PositivePositive

NegativeNegative10(33)10(33)

20(67)20(67)

Effect of employment on Effect of employment on the childthe child

YesYes

NoNo20(67)20(67)

9(30)9(30)

Problems faced by Problems faced by childrenchildren

YesYes

NoNo28(93)28(93)

2(7)2(7)

Husbands supportHusbands support PositivePositive 28(93)28(93)

Dimensions

Employed

N=30 (%)

Non EmployedN=30 (%)

Total

N=60 (%)

χ2

a) Emotional and verbal responsivity of parents

More responsibleAverageLess responsible

25(83)5(17)-

27(90)3(10)-

52(87)8(13)

0.576

b)Acceptance of childs behaviour

More acceptableAverage

28(93)2(7)

20(67)10(33)

48(82)12(20)

6.64*

c)Organisation of environment

GoodAveragePoor

16(53)14(47)-

26(87)3(10)1(3)

42(70)17(28)1(2)

10.48*

d) Provision of play material

More toysAverageLess toys

17(57)12(40)1(3)

25(83)4(14)1(3)

42(70)16(27)2(3)

5.52*

e) Parent’s involvement with the child

MoreAverageLess

1(3)14(47)15(50)

-18(60)12(40)

1(2)32(53)27(45)

1.82

f) Opportunity for variety in daily stimulation

MoreAverage

28(93)2(7)

27(90)3(10)

55(92)5(8)

0.218

* significant at 1%

Multidimensional Multidimensional parenting scaleparenting scale

• Non deviance on most of the positive dimensions, Non deviance on most of the positive dimensions, 40 % employed and 30% non employed mothers 40 % employed and 30% non employed mothers are dominant are dominant

• Deviance on all the negative dimensionsDeviance on all the negative dimensions• Significant differences in mean, on Dominance, at Significant differences in mean, on Dominance, at

1% level 1% level • As a whole 97% employed and 93% non employed As a whole 97% employed and 93% non employed

mothers show non deviance on positive dimensionsmothers show non deviance on positive dimensions• 90% employed and 67% non employed mothers 90% employed and 67% non employed mothers

show deviance on negative dimensionsshow deviance on negative dimensions• No significant differences observed except on No significant differences observed except on

dominancedominance

ConclusionsConclusions

• Children of employed mothers started receiving Children of employed mothers started receiving non maternal care earlynon maternal care early

• Employed mothers usually spend less time with Employed mothers usually spend less time with their childrentheir children

• They felt guilt and have negative feelings They felt guilt and have negative feelings towards separation from their childrentowards separation from their children

• Were of the opinion that employment effects Were of the opinion that employment effects their child’s development negativelytheir child’s development negatively

• Husbands cooperative but believe that their Husbands cooperative but believe that their wives should not workwives should not work

• Helped wives in childcare but mothers believe Helped wives in childcare but mothers believe that it is their prime responsibilitythat it is their prime responsibility

Conclusions contdConclusions contd• No difference in home environment of the children of No difference in home environment of the children of

employed and non employed mothers in the employed and non employed mothers in the dimensions of emotional and verbal dimensions of emotional and verbal responsivity,parental involvement and opportunities responsivity,parental involvement and opportunities for daily stimulationfor daily stimulation

• Difference in favour of employed mothers in the Difference in favour of employed mothers in the dimension of acceptance of childs behaviourdimension of acceptance of childs behaviour

• In organisation of environment and provision of play In organisation of environment and provision of play material differences in favour of non employed material differences in favour of non employed mothersmothers

• Due to lack of time the employed mothers usually Due to lack of time the employed mothers usually accept the behaviour of their children but they are accept the behaviour of their children but they are lesser able to organise their child’s environment and lesser able to organise their child’s environment and provide play material to themprovide play material to them

Conclusions contdConclusions contd

• Mothers believe that they are not Mothers believe that they are not spoiling the child by cuddling or spoiling the child by cuddling or showing affectionate behaviuorshowing affectionate behaviuor

• They give less freedom to the childrenThey give less freedom to the children• There is flexibility in discipline and There is flexibility in discipline and

controlcontrol• Reading and story telling not found Reading and story telling not found

effective at this age by themeffective at this age by them