UC Berkeley

By what means do mothers' developmental histories potentially influence their sense of maternal self-efficacy? This qualitative dissertation examines the perspectives and experiences of sixteen Japanese mothers concerning relationships with her children, her husband and her parents. Analyses in this study are based on interview transcripts and field notes. This study proposed that mothers who recalled having warm and positive relationships with one or both parents were more likely to feel confident in their parenting choices and thus experience higher maternal self-efficacy. On the other hand, mothers who recalled having a rejecting or negative relationship with one or both parents were proposed to be more likely to feel ineffective and thus threatened in their parenting approaches resulting in lower maternal self-efficacy. It is further proposed that the negative effects of having experienced rejecting parental relationships can be buffered or offset in mothers who perceive supportive, positive relationships with their husbands.