抑うつ状態にある母親が子どもに感じる思いから辿る育児プロセス

The Parenting Processes Led by Feelings of Mothers with Depressed Mood toward their Children

要旨

　目的：抑うつ状態にある母親が子どもに感じる思いから辿る育児プロセスを探索する．

　方法：産後1か月健診時または新生児家庭訪問時のエジンバラ産後うつ病自己調査票（EPDS）が9点以上の母親6名および，育児不安が強く育児指導を受けた母親6名，計12名の母親を対象に，半構成的面接法を実施した．研究方法はGrounded Theory Approachを用いた．

　結果：抑うつ状態にある母親は，日々《子どもへの対応がわからずイライラ，悶々として過ごす》状況にあり，様々な思いと育児行動のプロセスを経て《思わず手が出る》《子どもを放置・子どもに近づけない》《子どもに感謝する》の3つの帰結に至っていた．

　結論：子どもに否定的な感情を抱き負の帰結に至らないための支援として，母親を追い詰めない，孤立させないように，母親の元に直接出向いて必要な援助をすることの重要性が示唆された．

　Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate parenting processes led by feelings of mothers with depressed mood toward their children.

　Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 mothers: six mothers who scored 9 or higher on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at a 1-month postpartum checkup at their hospital or during a newborn baby home visit; other six mothers who exhibited high levels of anxiety about childrearing and who had received childrearing guidance. A grounded theory approach was used as the research method.

　Results: These mothers, on a daily basis, “Did not understand their children and were irritated and distressed about them,” and over time experienced a variety of feelings while caring for their children. These feelings and behavioral processes resulted in the following consequences: “Impulsively resorting to violence,” “Neglecting or being incapable of attending to their child,” or, “Being thankful to their child.”

　Conclusion: This study suggests that it is necessary to provide support not to lead the process to the negative consequences. To avoid worst-case scenarios where mothers with depressed mood are driven to extreme behaviors or isolation, having face-to-face meetings with mothers is significant.