We investigated the relationship between personality dimensions and consciousness of mothers whose children were becoming elementary school students within a couple of months. We also compared mothers of kindergartners and nursery school.
Two types of self-administered questionnaire were given. " Questionnaire about the mother’s consciousness during children’s school transition : 18 items" consisted of three factors such as F1:Expectation towards a new lifestyle, F2:Worries about child’s school life, and F3:Confidence to become a parent of schoolchild. " Questionnaire about the parent’s personality dimensions (Kashiwagi, 1995):
27 items" consisted of 6 dimensions F1: Different Perspective, F2: Cooperation & Sympathy, F3:Flexibility, F4: Acceptance of Fate & Faith, F5:Ego-strength, ans F6:Reason for Living & Existence.
The results indicated that the two groups have different perspectives toward becoming parent of elementary school children as follows.
1) Mother of nursery school children showed lower expectation towards a new life style; 2) Existence of an elder child in the family eased the mother’s worries towards the child’s school life; and 3) Mothers of kindergarten children and mothers with high scores in parent’s personality dimensions in both groups tended to feel positive about becoming a parent of aschoolchild.
When we aim to support mothers for their better adaptation during their children’s school transition, different approaches are needed depending on mother’s personality dimensions, child’s birth order as well as kinds of school (kindergarten or nursery school).
Nishizaka, S., Ayano, S., Gondo, K., & Murakami, Y.
