Beschreibung:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Aim</jats:title><jats:p>Delivery at 35 years and above has increased in Japan. While there is much research concerning obstetrical risk and delivery at advanced age, little research addresses child‐rearing after birth. This study seeks to identify how older primiparas' characteristics of child‐rearing, parenting stress, and mother–child interaction differ from those of younger mothers.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>Participants were primipara women aged 35 years and above and primiparas aged 20–29 years; all delivered in the hospital. Questionnaires were distributed during hospitalization after birth and during home visits at 3 months, 1 year, and 2 years post‐partum. Mother–child interactions during home visits were assessed using the Nursing Child Assessment Teaching Scale (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">NCATS</jats:styled-content>).</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>The older group included 13 primiparas, and the control group included seven primiparas at the study's end. Some older primiparas used fertility treatment and cesarean section, but primiparas in their 20s used neither. There were no significant differences in terms of depression, psychological health, size of networks, and number of daytime or night‐time feedings. Statistically significant differences were as follows. Older primiparas experienced more social isolation and overall stress, and their children exhibited greater hypersensitivity/lack of adaptability at 3 months. Older mothers were more likely to report little effort by their children to please them at 1 and 2 years after birth. Under observation, older primiparas received higher <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">NCATS</jats:styled-content> caregiver scores, but children of primiparas in their 20s received higher child scores.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title><jats:p>Mothers and child‐care specialists should recognize that older primiparas interact more favorably with their children, but have more parenting stress.</jats:p></jats:sec>