The role of the grandmother : child-rearing assistance from grandmothers supporting the process of becoming a mother

Purpose: Despite the increasing nuclearization of the family in Japan, a great deal of support for child-rearing is provided by the mother’s mother and mother-in-law. Therefore, the present study analyzed the current state of support for childrearing by grandmothers in order to provide basic data for midwives to enable them to provide continuous family support from the perinatal period to child-rearing and from menopause through to old age. This study aimed to clarify the situation of mothers raising children with help from grandmothers as well as the support needs of mothers during child-rearing and those of grandmothers supporting mothers. Methods: Data were collected using semi-structured interviews conducted on 13 mothers raising children with support from a three-generation family or a grandmother living nearby and four grandmothers who were supporting mothers. Results & Discussion: Mothers raising children with support from grandmothers perceived a difference in child-rearing knowledge between themselves and the grandmothers and felt confusion and difficulty regarding coping with these differences. Mothers who were able to cope and overcame the confusion and difficulties tended to have a positive approach to child-rearing. Both mothers and grandmothers had needs regarding childrearing support. However, the resolution of differences between mother and grandmother regarding child-rearing requires the facilitation of child-rearing support by grandmothers and fulfillment of the support needs of both mothers and grandmothers. Conclusions: The present findings indicate the necessity of continuous involvement of midwives in child-rearing support for both mothers raising children and grandmothers supporting mothers