Decision-making of mothers in Hong Kong regarding the occasional use of alternative child-care arrangements

This study examines the use of alternative child-care arrangements as an everyday life decision in a family context. Interviews with twenty-four mothers from a working class neighborhood in a new town in Hong Kong were transcribed and analyzed using a grounded theory approach. Results of the analysi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of family and economic issues 1999-07, Vol.20 (2), p.163-190
Main Authors: TAM, V. C. W, RETTIG, K. D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Child Care Services
Child. Socialization
Decision Making
Everyday Life
Families & family life
Hong Kong
Low Income Groups
Mothers
New Towns
Sociology
Sociology of the family. Age groups
Studies
Working Class
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Summary:This study examines the use of alternative child-care arrangements as an everyday life decision in a family context. Interviews with twenty-four mothers from a working class neighborhood in a new town in Hong Kong were transcribed and analyzed using a grounded theory approach. Results of the analysis outlined: (a) the structural components of making a decision regarding alternative care, which consisted of demands, resource options, definitions of the situation, types of decision situations, and the respective decision-making strategies; and (b) the nature of decision-making processes, varying from ad hoc to standing. Together, these aspects illuminate how mothers make decisions regarding the use of alternative child-care arrangements and, in turn, the characteristics of family decision-making in everyday life. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
ISSN:1058-0476
1573-3475
DOI:10.1023/A:1022106827083