ABSTRACT

Using a constructivist grounded theory approach, this study explored the decision-making processes mothers employ to negotiate everyday interactions with their young children. Twelve mothers of typically developing children aged 2-6 years participated in two in-depth interviews. A total of 22 interview transcripts were analyzed using grounded theory techniques with the end goal of constructing a theoretical framework of parental decision-making. This paper describes one part of the findings of this larger study in relation to the socio-historical context influencing mothering occupations. Specifically examined were how these occupations are similar to or different from those in the parent’s family of origin and parent identified situational factors leading to these similarities and differences. The findings suggest that mothers’ responses in diverse settings are best understood as transactional relationships among the mother’s historical context (past) including predispositions for ways to act (such as a tendency to hold a particular attitude or act in a particular way), challenges encountered in the present moment, and a strong desire to provide a successful future for their children. This “temporal permeability” of mothering occupations highlights the need to understand parenting occupations more holistically rather than as a snapshot in time.

摘要

本研究采用建构主义扎根理论方法，探讨了母亲在与幼儿进行日常互动时所采用的决策过程。十二名 2-6 岁发育正常儿童的母亲参加了两次深入访谈。使用扎根理论技术分析了总共 22 份访谈记录，最终目标是构建父母决策的理论框架。本文描述了这项更大规模研究中与影响母亲职业的社会历史背景相关的部分发现。具体检查了这些职业与父母原籍家庭中的职业有何相似或不同之处，以及父母确定的导致这些异同的情境因素。研究结果表明，母亲在不同环境中的反应最好理解为母亲历史背景（过去）之间的交易关系，包括行为方式的倾向（例如持有特定态度或以特定方式行事的倾向）、遇到的挑战在当下，强烈希望为他们的孩子提供一个成功的未来。育儿职业的这种“时间渗透性”凸显了更全面地理解育儿职业的必要性，而不是作为时间的快照。以及为孩子创造成功未来的强烈愿望。育儿职业的这种“时间渗透性”凸显了更全面地理解育儿职业的必要性，而不是作为时间的快照。以及为孩子创造成功未来的强烈愿望。育儿职业的这种“时间渗透性”凸显了更全面地理解育儿职业的必要性，而不是作为时间的快照。