MATERNAL ATTITUDES AND FAMILY CHANGES DUR ING THE TRANSITION TO PARENTHOOD IN A CROSS-CULTURAL-COMPARISON - STUDIES ON FIRST-TIME AND 2ND-TIME MOTHERS IN WEST-GERMANY, GEORGIA US AND SOUTH-KOREA

Attitude changes (value of children, burden of children, role-attitude s) and changes in marital satisfaction during the transition to parent hood of first-time and second-time mothers were investigated in a cros s-cultural study in three countries - West-Germany, Geogia/US and Sout h Korea. Whereas the statistical comparison of these groups proves tha t similarities but also specific cultural differences in the examined variables do exist the multivariate analysis of different ecologically variables (e.g. school degree, duration of partnership/marriage, empl oyment and intention to continue work after birth, climate in the fami ly of origin) shows that there are significant differences related to the number of children as well as fertility orientated.