An expanded outlook on supervision: Mothers' perceptions

Purpose: To explore mothers' perceptions, concerns, and competing demands related to child supervision, and to describe developmental changes. Methods: Three focus groups were conducted during December 2005 in Rochester, NY. Mothers of children ages 3 to 11 were recruited from varied socioeconomic and racial backgrounds. Audiotapes of the group discussions were transcribed and analyzed using content analysis. Transcriptions were first coded independently with authors then agreeing on common themes. Results: Mothers emphasized a broad notion of supervision that extended beyond injury prevention. They described a struggle between the need for protection and discipline and the promotion of values, growth, and independence. In addition, mothers shared their concerns about a range of potentially uncontrollable risks which threaten or interfered with establishing and maintaining an overall safe environment for their children. These risks stemmed from things like new technology, increasing violence, and various social pressures. These ideas were similar between mothers of preschool and school aged children. Conclusion: These results highlight the complex nature of supervision and require a broadened conceptualization that recognizes the breadth of mothers' concerns. Creating a comprehensive view of supervision is essential to the development of appropriate measures and enhances our understanding related to parental injury prevention activities.