Parenting self-efficacy and social support in Japan and the United States

SMC Author

Sawako Suzuki

SMC Affiliated Work

1

Author Role

co-author

Status

Faculty

School

Kalmanovitz School of Education

Department

Teacher Education

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-8-2009

Publication / Conference / Sponsorship

Journal of Family Issues

Description/Abstract

To understand the conditions that give rise to parenting self-efficacy in Japan and the United States, the authors have investigated its relation to the perceptions of support available to mothers of children in the final year of preschool (N = 235; n = 121 in United States, n = 114 in Japan). Hierarchical regression analysis indicates that in both countries, women who experience higher parenting self-efficacy report more positive childhood memories of parental support and greater satisfaction with husband’s and friends’ support. Mothers in the United States are significantly more self-efficacious than are mothers in Japan, even after controlling for the effects of the support predictors. A follow-up mediational analysis reveals that Japanese women’s lower levels of parenting self-efficacy are partially attributable to their low satisfaction with husband’s support.

Keywords

parenting self-efficacy, social support, cross-cultural differences, mothers, Japan, childhood memory

DOI

10.1177/0192513X09336830

Volume

30

First Page

1505

Last Page

1526

Disciplines

Education

Original Citation

Suzuki, S, Holloway, S. D., Yamamoto, Y. and Mindnich, J. D. (June 8, 2009). Parenting self-efficacy and social support in Japan and the United States. Journal of Family Issues, 30 (pp.1505- 1526). DOI: 10.1177/0192513X09336830

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