179054 Spillover of work and family roles of fathers and their emotional support for young mothers

Tuesday, October 28, 2008: 9:30 AM

Takashi Naruse, PHN, RN , Department of Community Health Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Azusa Arimoto, PhD, PHN, RN , Department of Community Health Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Izumi Watai, MS, PHN, RN, MW , Department of Community Health Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Akiko Honda, PhD, PHN, RN , Kanagawa University of Human Services, Kanagawa, Japan
Atsuko Taguchi, RN, PHN, MS , Department of Community Health Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Sachiyo Murashima, PhD, PHN, RN , Department of Community Health Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
     
Objective: To clarify the relationship between spillover (the way in which the occupation of one role results in perceived gains or conflict in another role) of the work and family roles in fathers and their emotional support for their wives as mothers of young children.

Methods: Self-administered questionnaires were mailed to fathers of 1 and 2 year-old children in 31 nursery schools in suburban Tokyo. They provided demographic and work-related information about themselves and their wives. Emotional support for mothers was assessed using a modified version of a scale developed in Japan. The scale measuring equalitarian sex roles (SESRA-S), thought to be a mediating variable, was developed in Japan. The role spillover scale originated in the USA but was modified for use in Japan. All showed acceptable reliability and validity in this study.

Results: Analysis refers to responses of 21.5% of 880 fathers. In the regression model with the best adjusted R2 (0.177; p<0.001) higher positive work-family spillover scores and SESRA-S were associated with greater emotional support for mothers. But negative work to family and family to work spillover were not related to emotional support for mothers.

Conclusion: Expectations for fathers' engagement and support for child-rearing are increasing in Japan. That fathers' positive work-family spillover was positively related to their emotional support for mothers suggests the desirability of increasing family-friendly work place policies and worker counseling about spillover.

Learning Objectives:
1 Describe the effects of multiple roles on fathers' behavior for their wives in Japan as workaholic society. 2 Discuss the ways to make it possible for fathers who are busy with their work to provide more emotional support for their wives.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: This research was not managed for resercher's benefit.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Healthy Child Care America: Supporting Health and Social Emotional Development of Young Children in Child Care Settings
See more of: Maternal and Child Health