An exploratory survey on maternal child-rearing concerns and help seeking

Abstract

A survey of 34 middle-class mothers on child-rearing concerns about preteen children listed 12 specific areas. These proved to provide adequate coverage. Most questions were in the area of methods of discipline and training, least in antisocial acts and morals. There was more concern about preschoolers (especially 2 1–year-olds) than about older children. Concerns were far less frequent for girls than for boys. Almost all the questions could be placed into four categories: Technique, Normative, Values, and Causal-Diagnostic. Mothers reported not asking anyone about most concerns. Of the only three groups frequently consulted, friends provided more satisfactory answers (77 percent) than physicians (63 percent) or teachers (60 percent). Limitations of the study and recommendations for future research were discussed.