本研究檢視「母親養育子女之態度」和她在有關子女健康方面的行為、有關子女能力方面的投資之間的關聯。研究資料來源為2002 年於中台灣針對一群四歲幼兒之母親所收集的調查資料。研究以「母親生育兒女的主要原因」以及「她最希望子女有的特質」做為母親養育子女之態度的衡量。本研究所檢視的「母親在有關子女健康方面之行為」是母親使用產前照護的模式、哺育母乳的行為，以及餵食子女營養補充品和帶子女運動的行為。「有關子女能力方面之投資」則指送子女去參加增進智力、藝術技能和運動能力之課程的行為。此研究多變量分析之研究結果顯示「母親養育子女之態度」確實影響了大多數被本研究檢視的「母親在有關子女健康方面之行為」和「母親有關子女能力方面之投資」。

This study investigates the links of maternal attitudes in child-raising with their behaviors and investments related to children’s health and ability. The study uses data from an interview survey targeted at mothers with children aged four and held in central Taiwan in 2002; its measures for maternal attitudes in child-raising include the major maternal reason for raising children and maternal most-wanted characteristic for children. Maternal behaviors regarding child health which this study investigates are maternal patterns of using prenatal care, breastfeeding children, giving children nutritional supplements, and taking children to exercise. The investments in children’s ability refer to training courses for improving children’s intellectual capability, artistic skills and sporting talents. Results from multivariate analyses for this study show that maternal attitudes in child-raising substantially affect most of these maternal behaviors and investments regarding children’s health and ability.