The Effects of Maternal Parenting Stress and Value of Children on the Ideal Number of Children: Moderated Mediation Effects of Perception of the Adequacy of National Public Childcare Facilities

Abstract

Objective The purpose of this study was to identify the mediation effect of value of children in the relationship between maternal parenting stress and ideal number of children and to verify whether perception of the adequacy of national public childcare facilities moderates this mediation relationship. Methods For the analysis, the 6th year results (2013) from the Panel Study on Korean Children by the Korean Institute of Child Care and Education were used. The main subjects of the study were 1,611 mothers with children aged 60 - 66 months. Results First, there was a partial mediation effect of mother's parenting stress influencing the ideal number of children through the value of children. Second, the enhancing effect of the perception of the adequacy of national public childcare facilities moderating the value of children and ideal number of children was verified. Third, perception of the adequacy of national public childcare facilities had enforcing effects moderating the value of children and ideal number of children and mediation effects moderating the influence of maternal parenting stress on ideal number of children through the value of children. Conclusion Based on the results, it was confirmed that the expansion of national public childcare facilities is a factor strengthening the maternal intention of birth. Keywords: parenting stress, value of children, ideal number of children, national public childcare facilities, early childhood