Parental Stress and Child Rearing Decisions

Title
Parental Stress and Child Rearing Decisions
Publication Date
2007
Author(s)
Gray, Colene
Sims, Margaret
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4686-4245
Email: msims7@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:msims7
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Childforum Research Network
Place of publication
New Zealand
UNE publication id
une:5560
Abstract
In our modern society parenting is a difficult and undervalued task. Today parents raise children in isolation with very little support yet face immense criticism when they experience problems. Families who do not fit the western image of the 'ideal family' face even more stress (as they are pressured to conform) yet often find that available services do not easily meet their needs. This paper uses conversational interviews to develop a shared understanding of the experiences of these parents. The factors identified in this research were: the interaction between the desire to parent differently than their own parents, their stress levels, the satisfaction they experienced from the parenting role and their ability to develop a range of coping strategies. Coping strategies focused around the role of religion, culture and routines in providing frameworks for shaping their new lives, and the availability of practical and emotional support in giving parents the resources to manage.
Link
Citation
New Zealand Research in Early Childhood Education, v.10, p. 105-118
ISSN
1174-6122
Start page
105
End page
118

Files:

NameSizeformatDescriptionLink