The Characteristics and the Present Situations of Japanese Couples in Child-Rearing Period

Abstract

This study aims to find the characteristics of Japanese couples in child-rearing period through surveying Japanese studies of the couples and to discuss the present situation and the future of them in Japan in terms of psychological viewpoint. 115 studies which are found from the Japanese database of CiNii and Ichu-shi are classified into 4 main themes: 1) the role, 2) husband’s support, 3) marital relationship, and 4) child-rearing stress and child-rearing anxiety. Results show 1) wife mainly carries parental role and though husband wants to participate in child-rearing, he can’t because of working time, 2) mental support from husband and couple’s communication reduce child-rearing stress, 3) wife’s satisfaction with marital relationship dramatically decreases in child-rearing period, and 4) how to feel child-rearing stress depends on working styles. The facts that wife’s satisfaction of marital relationship dramatically decreases in the child-rearing period and that wife mainly carries child-rearing work are common characteristics of the child-rearing period. On the other hands, little time of husband’s participation in child-rearing is remarkable characteristic of Japan. From this characteristic, the problem that Japanese social support for couples in child-rearing period isn’t enough can be pointed out. In Japanese current situation, couples need to have time to communicate and to share the idea of child-rearing to maintain good marital relationship in child-rearing period.