The relative influence of parenting efficacy, fathers’ participation in parenting and social support on parenting stress of mothers with early children

Objectives The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of parenting efficacy, fathers’ participation in parenting and social support on parenting stress of mothers with early children. Methods To solve these research question, an online survey was conducted on mothers with early children aged 3 to 5 in South Korea through online communities related to childcare, and the analyses were based on data answered by 241 people. Results First, parenting efficacy, fathers’ participation in parenting and social support on parenting stress showed negative correlations. Fathers’ participation in parenting had the greatest influence on daily stress caused by child rearing, and parenting efficacy had the highest influence on burden and distress caused by parental roles. Second, as a result of examining the relative influence of each variable influencing mother’s parenting stress, the variables influencing daily stress from child rearing were social support and fathers’ participation in parenting. As sub-variables, ‘evaluative support’ of social support, and ‘self-growth’ of fathers’ participation in parenting were highly influential. The variables that influence burden and distress due to parental roles were fathers’ participation in parenting and parenting efficacy. And as sub-variables, ‘joint parenting’ of fathers’ participation in parenting, and ‘general parenting ability’, ‘communication skills’ of parenting efficacy were influential. Conclusions The variables that influence both daily stress due to child rearing and burden and distress due to parental roles were in fathers’ participation in parenting. These results can be used as important basic data in developing an approach to reducing parenting stress for mothers with early children.