Factors associated with cognitive failure among mothers involved in child care

Abstract

Mothers involved in child care may be prone to various cognitive failures (e.g., leaving things behind) as a result of being overburdened with maternal duties, with limited attentional capacity for responding to children’s frequent demands. Therefore, this study aimed to explore factors associated with cognitive failure among mothers involved in child care in Japan. The participants were 310 mothers aged 25–45 (155 full-time workers, 155 housewives). The self-reported questionnaire covered cognitive failure (outcome variable), basic demographic characteristics, sociological factors, health status, and personality. Cognitive failure was assessed using the 15-item Japanese version of the Short Inventory of Minor Lapses. The variables evaluated for potential associations with cognitive failure included mother’s age, youngest child’s age, number of children, employment status, daily sleep duration, time spent on leisure activities, fatigue, social support (instrumental and emotional), use of child care services, and the Big Five personality traits (neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness). Multiple regression analysis showed that number of children, fatigue, emotional support, neuroticism, agreeableness, and conscientiousness were independently and significantly associated with cognitive failure. Our results may help facilitate the development of effective strategies to prevent adverse effects on children’s and parents’ health by preventing cognitive failure among mothers.

Keywords

• child care
• cognitive failures
• emotional support
• mothers
• personality