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The purpose of the study was to identify risk and protective factors for child-related strain among Japanese mothers. The present study focused not only on mothers' employment status and gender role attitudes, but also on partner's gender role attitudes. A sample of 322 married Japanese couples (mean age: 31.2 years for mothers and 34.0 years for fathers) in Gifu, Japan, completed a self-administered questionnaire concerning child-related strain, number of children, distance from their parents, employment status, educational level, marital quality, and gender role attitudes. Results from multiple regression analyses showed that, among the mother's variables, employment status and marital quality were negatively associated with child-related strain. The number of years of education was also negatively associated with child-related strain. Except for years of education, partner's variables did not have strong effects on child-related strain. For Japanese mothers of toddlers, working may be protective against child-related strain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]