[Development of the community child-rearing support scale: Measuring supportive behavior among older adults]

Isolation and anxiety among child-rearing mothers in Japan are a current social problem. Involving diverse people in the community is recognized as an important factor in successful child rearing. This study aimed to develop a scale to measure supportive behavior for child rearing among older adults in the community and examine its reliability and validity.

Items were selected to measure supportive behaviors for child rearing in the community in accordance with constructs introduced via literature reviews and a preliminary investigation. Participants were asked to evaluate the frequency of each behavior on a four-point scale in a mail-based survey. Of a random sample of 1,500 individuals aged 60-69, living in the Tokyo metropolitan area, 813 (54%) responded. Construct validity and reliability of the scale were examined by a confirmatory factor analysis and Cronbach's reliability coefficient. The validity was also examined by clarifying whether the assumed positive associations between the scale and the following variables were observed: frequency of contact with community residents; the generativity scale, which measured concern for the next generation; and experience of child rearing measured by number of own children and level of support for grandchildren. Pearson's correlation and multiple regression analyses were performed for the analysis of the results.

The literature review and preliminary investigation revealed three constructs of supportive behaviors: "children's security and sound growth," "instrumental support to parents," and "emotional support to parents." A second-order factor analysis that modeled "child-rearing support in the community" as a higher-order factor above these three factors showed a good model fit when one item was deleted. The reliability coefficient was high enough (alpha=0.87) with the remaining seven items. As expected, the total score positively and significantly correlated with the frequency of contact with residents, especially with the younger generation, including children and their parents; generativity score; number of children; and care for grandchildren. Multiple regression analyses revealed that the measured child-rearing support in the community was largely explained by the frequency of contact with the younger generation. However, being female, taking care of grandchildren, and a higher generativity correlated with a higher child-rearing support score even after controlling for the frequency of contact.

Reliability and validity of the community child-rearing support scale, consisting of seven items, were confirmed. Further studies are required to show applicability of the scale to diverse communities and age groups, and investigate the effects of the measured supportive behaviors on the child-rearing generation.