A Comparative Study of Ecoculture Interview: Families with and without Developmental Disability Children of Japanese and American Families

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23530717
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Social welfare and social work studies
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo (2015); Teikyo Heisei University (2012-2014); Hokkaido University (2011)
• Principal Investigator: ITO Keiko 東京大学, 国際本部, 特任講師 (60534435)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-28 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: エコ・カルチャー理論 / 家族 / 発達障がい

Outline of Final Research Achievements

As expected, there were significant differences in numbers of EFI items between Japanese and American families. Mother’s supports on both child care and household work from fathers and others were significantly less in Japanese families than American families. Also, in Japanese families, child’s influence on father’s occupational choice and condition was little, and father can spend only limited amount of time with their child each day. On the other hand, there were no significant difference between Japanese and American families in either Marital Satisfaction or Quality of Life (QOL) scores.
Other points in this results are that when compare to families with typically developed (TD) child, Japanese mothers with developmental disability (DD) child receive less help and supports from their spouse or relatives. This result highlighted the fact that mothers of DD child in Japan are hassling all by themselves for both child care and household works.

Free Research Field

Counseling Psychology