Korean J Child Health Nurs.  2005 Jan;11(1):5-13.

Factors Predicting Maternal Conflict in Mothers of Toddlers

• Cho HJ
• Ahn SH
• Shin JS
• Lee SO

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was done to identify degrees of maternal conflict, differences, and factors predicting conflict in mothers of toddlers. METHOD: A convenience sample of 300 mothers living in G city, Kyounggi-do whose child was between 12 to 36 months old was used. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey and analyzed using SPSS WIN 10.0.
RESULTS
The average score for maternal conflict was 67.35 (SD=10.18), somewhat lower than moderate in level. 'I as a human being' was the area of the 6-sub areas with the most conflict. Mothers experiencing higher maternal conflict were those who were less satisfied with marriage, quality of life, and maternal role, and whose child was stubborn and hard to please, who were unsatisfied with baby sitters or who had to rush their sick child to hospital. Factors that were significant in predicting maternal conflict were low satisfaction with maternal role and marriage, and a child who was difficult to care for. These factors accounted for 22% of explained variance.
CONCLUSION
Nurses should help mothers resolve maternal conflict through education and counseling on the maternal role, but at the same time nurses should consider relationship of the mother with her husband and also special characteristics of her child.

MeSH Terms

Child
Child Rearing
Child, Preschool
Counseling
Education
Humans
Marriage
Mothers*
Quality of Life
Spouses
Child Health
Surveys and Questionnaires