Factors Associated with Quality of Life Among Mothers Rearing 4- and 18-Month Old Infants in Japan
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Factors Associated with Quality of Life Among Mothers Rearing 4and 18-Month Old Infants in Japan Tomoko Nishida1 · Yoko Tanaka2 · Hisataka Sakakibara3
© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2018
Abstract Objective The purpose of the present study was to investigate factors associated with quality of life (QOL) among mothers raising 4 and 18-month-old infants. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using self-report questionnaires. Participants included 400 women who took their infants for health checkups at a city in Aichi Prefecture, Japan (4-month-olds: n = 197, 18-month-olds: n = 203). Study variables included the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOLBREF) scale, mother’s lifestyle, support from family, and other factors potentially related to QOL. Results For mothers of 4-month-old infants, total QOL was associated with emotional support from families (OR 6.09, 95% CI 2.13–17.43) and having enough sleep (7 h or more; OR 4.18, 95% CI 1.86–9.36). These mothers had shorter sleeping hours than mothers of 18-month-old infants. QOL of mothers of 18-month-old infants was associated with emotional support from families (OR 3.06, 95% CI 1.14–8.22) and using childrearing support facilities (OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.01–4.01). Conclusion Different factors contributed to mothers’ QOL as a function of infant age. Emotional support from families was associated with better QOL in both mother groups. Differences were that for mothers of 4-month-old infants, enough sleep was relevant to QOL, while in mothers of 18-month-old infants, childcare services helped improving their QOL. Keywords Quality of life · Mother · Infant · Social support · Child rearing
Significance What is already known on this subject? Childcare affects mother’s life and her health. Moreover mother’s quality of life (QOL) is associated with various factors such as educational history, postnatal depression, and family support. However, few studies have focused on differences in her QOL by the age of the infant being reared. What this study adds? Emotional support from families is critical for QOL in mothers. In addition, mothers’ needs * Tomoko Nishida t‑nishida@sugiyama‑u.ac.jp 1
Department of Nursing, Sugiyama Jogakuen University, 17‑3 Hoshigaoka‑motomachi, Chikusa‑ku, Nagoya 464‑8662, Japan
2
Health Promotion Division, Department of Health and Welfare, 36 Higashihata, Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture 484‑8501, Japan
3
Department of Nursing, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 1‑1‑20, Daiko‑minami, Higashi‑ku, Nagoya 461‑8673, Japan
are different according to their infant’s age. Getting enough sleep is important for mothers of 4-month old infants, while the use of childrearing support facilities is helpful for mothers of 18-month old infants.
Introduction Childbirth and childcare are important components to many women’s lives. These events/tasks facilitate considerable love for infants, with mothers taking pleasure in witnessing a child’s growth (Nohara 2012). However, these experiences can als
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