94.6% Report Reduced Isolation: A Survey on the Effectiveness of Child-Rearing Support from Home-Start
Key facts
- 94.6% Report Reduced Isolation: A Survey on the Effectiveness of Child-Rearing Support from Home-Start
- A nationwide survey by Home-Start Japan reveals that its volunteer-based, in-home support for families with young children significantly alleviates parental isolation and anxiety. The study, targeting users from 2024-2025, found that 94.6% of participants felt their sense of isolation was resolved. The program is shown to fill crucial gaps in government support, particularly for parents struggling with the burdens of raising children alone.
- Date: March 30, 2026
Direct answer
A nationwide survey by Home-Start Japan reveals that its volunteer-based, in-home support for families with young children significantly alleviates parental isolation and anxiety. The study, targeting users from 2024-2025, found that 94.6% of participants felt their sense of isolation was resolved. The program is shown to fill crucial gaps in government support, particularly for parents struggling with the burdens of raising children alone.
- Citation
- 94.6% Report Reduced Isolation: A Survey on the Effectiveness of Child-Rearing Support from Home-Start (March 30, 2026)
- Source
- PR Times
- Date
- March 30, 2026
A nationwide survey by Home-Start Japan reveals that its volunteer-based, in-home support for families with young children significantly alleviates parental isolation and anxiety. The study, targeting users from 2024-2025, found that 94.6% of participants felt their sense of isolation was resolved. The program is shown to fill crucial gaps in government support, particularly for parents struggling with the burdens of raising children alone.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: March 30, 2026 at 07:00
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 26, 2026 at 21:27 (1382h 26m after Published)
In parallel, interviews with public health nurses in seven municipalities that partner with Home-Start revealed that the service plays a crucial role in filling "support gaps" that government services cannot address.
**Survey Overview:**
- **Target Audience:** Pregnant women and families with infants/toddlers aged 18 and over who used Home-Start between February 2024 and November 2025.
- **Survey Period:** December 2025 to January 2026.
- **Number of Responses:** 426 (solicited via postcard, email, and LINE; conducted via Google Forms).
**Survey Planning and Reports:**
- **"Survey Report on the Needs and Effects for Pregnant Women and Families with Infants and Young Children Who Used Resident-Based, Attentive Companion Visiting Support"**
- Principal Investigator: Yoshitaka Nozawa (Associate Professor, Tokyo Mirai University, Faculty of Child Psychology)
- **"Guide for Collaboration Between Professionals and Non-Professionals in Companion Support for Pregnant Women and Families with Infants and Young Children"**
- Supervisor: Tomoka Takagi (Professor, Doshisha Women's University, Faculty of Nursing)
## Before and After Using Home-Start: Specific "Struggles" and "Effects"
The survey asked what struggles parents faced before using Home-Start. The most prominent issue was "one-person parenting (wan-ope)," accounting for 187 of the 426 responses.
Additionally, issues like anxiety about not knowing how to raise children and the difficulty of raising two or more children ranked high among parents' concerns. Characteristically, these problems were not limited to a need for single-instance support like housekeeping aid, but manifested as a complex burden stemming from the state of "shouldering childcare alone."
When asked about the effects of using Home-Start, the most frequent positive outcome was that their "sense of isolation was resolved," with 94.6% of respondents affirming this.
Following that, over 80% of users reported positive effects in areas such as reduced anxiety and irritability, feeling more connected to their community, better management of housework and childcare, being able to interact with their children more calmly, and becoming able to ask for help from people around them.
FAQ
What is the main finding of the Home-Start Japan user survey regarding the effectiveness of their child-rearing support?
The survey revealed that 94.6% of users reported reduced feelings of isolation after utilizing Home-Start's services.
Who was the target audience for the Home-Start Japan nationwide user survey?
The survey targeted pregnant women and families with infants or toddlers aged 18 months and over who had used Home-Start's services between February 2024 and November 2025.
What was the most frequently reported struggle faced by parents before using Home-Start?
The most prominent struggle reported by parents was 'one-person parenting' (wan-ope), with 187 out of 426 respondents citing this issue.
In what way do public health nurses perceive Home-Start's role in child-rearing support?
Interviews with public health nurses indicated that Home-Start plays a crucial role in addressing 'support gaps' that government services are unable to cover.
What were some other significant concerns parents had before using Home-Start, besides one-person parenting?
Other high-ranking concerns included anxiety about not knowing how to raise children and the difficulties associated with raising two or more children.