実践報告

Shoko, TSURUOKA

bilateral cultural dilemma

pregnancy

child birth and raising

The purpose of this study is to clarify the characteristics of bilateral cultural dilemmas that foreign mothers living in Japan for short periods have during the term of their pregnancy, child birth and raising. Data was collected concerning the aspects of, and factors relevant to the dilemmas through semi-structured interviews with three foreign mothers who have experienced their first pregnancy, bearing and rearing with a Japanese husband. As a result, the subjects experienced various dilemmas such as “anxiety about a lack of suitable maternity nutrition due to a lack of food which she can eat", and “anxious that not wearing a maternity girdle would influence the pregnancy". There are two aspects of anxiety about the subject's and her child's health future and about the difficulty of the subject's diet and child raising. Factors included in the subjects relative dilemmas are various feelings such as hope for conforming and for passing her culture to her child. Factors concerning the family include preparation of a support system and mental support. Factors concerning nurses are various roles such as objective advice about health care and coordination for her family members. Also considered is the role of friends/acquaintances in the subject's mental support.