Outline of the Fourth Longitudinal Survey of Newborns in the 21st Century

Terms and Definitions

(1) Sibling composition

The composition of elder and younger siblings who live with the surveyed child.

If the surveyed child is one of the twins or triplets, and does not have other siblings, he/she is categorized in the group of "elder sibling(s) only."

If the surveyed child has siblings whose ages are unknown, such siblings are categorized as "elder siblings" if they have been counted since the 1st survey.

(2) Caregivers

Usual caregivers

Those who take care of the subject child on a daily basis, regardless of the hours

Nurses, etc. at nursery schools Incl. nurses at authorized and unauthorized (e.g. baby hotels) nursery facilities

Nursery mothers A collective name for those authorized by local governments, in order to take care of a small number of infants at home. Also "home welfare workers" and "nursery rooms at home"

Baby sitters Those who take care of infants at infants' homes

Major caregivers during the day

Those who spend the longest hours with the surveyed child during weekdays, among the above usual caregivers

Nurses, etc. Incl. "Nurses, etc. at nursery schools," "Nursery mothers" and/or "Baby sitters"

Major nursing patterns

The combination of the "major caregivers during the day," over the periods of the 1st through 4th surveys

Major caregivers during the day

1st survey 2nd survey 3rd survey 4th survey

Parents only Mother/Father Mother/Father Mother/Father Mother/Father

Nurses, etc. since two years old or younger

Nurses, etc. since zero year old Nurses, etc. Nurses, etc. Nurses, etc. Nurses, etc.

Parents, and then nurses, etc. since one year old Mother/Father Nurses, etc. Nurses, etc. Nurses, etc.

Parents, and then nurses, etc. since two years old Mother/Father Mother/Father Nurses, etc. Nurses, etc.

Parents, and then nurses, etc. since three years old Mother/Father Mother/Father Mother/Father Nurses, etc.

Parents, and then kindergarten teachers since three years old Mother/Father Mother/Father Mother/Father Kindergarten teachers

(3) Employed (including those taking childcare leave or other leaves)

1st, 2nd and 4th surveys:

Total of full-time workers, part-time workers, self-employed workers, family workers, pieceworkers at home, and others

3rd survey:

Those engaged in work with income, or with the intention of receiving income

(4) Impressions from child rearing (satisfactions from child rearing, etc.)

"Satisfactions from child rearing" and "burdens and worries about child rearing" are in regards to the surveyed children.

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