Transition to Parenthood

Background: Depression symptoms may negatively affect the achievement of developmental tasks within the transition to parenthood, increasing the risk of paternal adjustment problems and negative paternal attitudes. Objective: This study analysed the effect of men's depression symptoms on paternal adjustment and paternal attitudes trajectories from the second trimester of pregnancy to six months postpartum. Methods: A sample of 127 men completed measures of depression symptoms and paternal adjustment and paternal attitudes at the second trimester of pregnancy and at six months postpartum. Results: From the second trimester of pregnancy to six months postpartum, men with more depression symptoms revealed a decrease on positive attitudes towards sex (while men with fewer depression symptoms revealed an increase), a steeper decrease in the satisfaction with marital relationship (than men with fewer depression symptoms), and a decrease in positive attitudes towards pregnancy and the baby (while men with fewer depression symptoms revealed an increase). Conclusion: Depression symptoms early in pregnancy may represent a risk factor to increased paternal adjustment problems and negative paternal attitudes during the transition to parenthood.

Drawing on a comparison of two ethnographic research projects on surrogacy in the United States and Israel, this paper explores surrogates' views about motherhood and parenthood, relationships and relatedness. The paper challenges three myths of surrogacy: that surrogates bond with the babies they carry for intended parents, that it is immoral not to acknowledge the surrogates' maternity, and that surrogacy upsets the moral order of society by dehumanizing and commodifying reproduction. Contrasting the similarities and differences in the voices of surrogates from these studies, the authors argue that surrogates draw on ideas about technology, genetics and intent in order to explain that they do not bond with the child because they are not its mother. This is followed by an exploration of surrogates' definitions of what constitutes parenthood, suggesting that in both contexts, surrogates draw clear boundaries between their own family and that of the intended parents. Finally, it is suggested that surrogates expect a relationship, or a bond, to develop with the intended parents and view their contribution as exceptional moral work which involves nurturing, caring, friendship and solidarity. The paper concludes that for surrogates in the USA and in Israel, maternity, bonding and kin-ties are not automatic outcomes of pregnancy, but a choice. Surrogates in both contexts hold that bonding with other people's children as if they were one's own is wrong while bonding with their couple and creating 'fictive kin' ties with them is the logical outcome of the intense and intimate process of collaborative baby-making.

Selbst junge Erwachsene, die noch keine Kinder haben, sind durch traditionelle Familienbilder gepragt, wie eine vom Schweizerischen Nationalfonds unterstutze Studie zeigt. Gleichzeitig haben sie moderne Ansichten von Gleichberechtigung, beruflichem Engagement und Kinderbetreuung. Das bringt nicht nur die jungen Frauen, sondern auch die jungen Manner bereits fruh in eine Zwickmuhle.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a prevalent and common problem yet is rarely screened for, or addressed, in couple relationship education (CRE). The current study examined the prevalence of IPV in 250 couples expecting their first child who were recruited into a study of CRE across the transition to parenthood. The couples were generally highly satisfied with their relationship, yet 32% reported at least one incident of IPV in the past 12 months, and 7% reported at least one spouse had been injured by IPV. The majority of violence was of low severity (pushing, slapping, or shoving), and the most common pattern was of reciprocal aggression between the partners. Given that even low severity IPV is associated with

Despite elevated incidence of preterm births among African Americans, very little is known about how aspects of family functioning, such as the division of labor and maternal functioning, operate within this population of families. The current study examines the applicability of a reliable questionnaire of household labor division and support (Who Does What; Cowan & Cowan, 1988) in a predominantly low-income sample of urban-dwelling African American mothers with preterm infants. It was hypothesized that lower discrepancy between actual and preferred divisions of labor and child care tasks would predict higher levels of maternal self-efficacy and relationship satisfaction and lower levels of parental stress. Participants were African American mothers of premature infants recruited into a larger study from four hospitals in the Baltimore/Washington, DC area. Of 173 mothers recruited, 79 who were married or living with partner served as subjects; assessments for the current analyses oc...

Drawing on the relational turbulence model, this study queries whether it is the amount of relational uncertainty and partner interference in a relationship, or the magnitude of an increase in these mechanisms over time, that accounts for decreased relationship satisfaction for new parents. To test these competing hypotheses, a longitudinal study of 78 couples was conducted in which both partners completed surveys about their relationship at 4 time points during the transition to parenthood. Multilevel modeling revealed that the amount and the increase of relational uncertainty and partner interference were negatively associated with relationship satisfaction when considered separately, but when evaluated in combination, the magnitude of an increase in these variables was the stronger predictor of relationship satisfaction. The transition to parenthood is usually an exciting time for couples, but the myriad changes to the romantic relationship that accompany the birth of a first child can contribute to unexpected stressors (Gottman & Notarius, 2000; Simpson, Rholes, Campbell, Wilson, & Tran, 2002). Although some studies have shown that relationship satisfaction remains relatively stable during the transition to parenthood (e.g., Clements & Markman, 1996; Huston & Vangelisti, 1995; Kurdek, 1993), most existing research on this pivotal moment in relationships suggests that the birth of a first child is associated with a decline in relationship satisfaction (e.g.

Coparenting is based on parents' representations of themselves as coparents. Attachment theory can be a useful framework to understand the way that different coparenting representations are developed during the transition to parenthood. This study aimed to analyze the association between men's attachment and coparenting representations at the first trimester of pregnancy and from the first trimester of pregnancy to 6 months' postpartum. A sample of 86 men was recruited and completed self-report measures of attachment and coparenting representations at the first and third trimester of pregnancy and at 1 and 6 months' postpartum. At the first trimester of pregnancy, higher attachment avoidance was associated with higher lack of coparenting support. From the first trimester of pregnancy to 6 months' postpartum, higher attachment avoidance was associated with (a) a steeper increase on lack of coparenting support, (b) an increase on coparenting conflict (while low attachment avoidance was associated with a decrease), and (c) a lower decrease on coparenting disagreement. This study may contribute to coparenting research by showing new evidence on attachment theory as a useful framework to understand how different coparenting representations are developed in men during the transition to parenthood.

Background: Depression symptoms may negatively affect the achievement of developmental tasks within the transition to parenthood, increasing the risk of paternal adjustment problems and negative paternal attitudes. Objective: This study analysed the effect of men's depression symptoms on paternal adjustment and paternal attitudes trajectories from the second trimester of pregnancy to six months postpartum. Methods: A sample of 127 men completed measures of depression symptoms and paternal adjustment and paternal attitudes at the second trimester of pregnancy and at six months postpartum. Results: From the second trimester of pregnancy to six months postpartum, men with more depression symptoms revealed a decrease on positive attitudes towards sex (while men with fewer depression symptoms revealed an increase), a steeper decrease in the satisfaction with marital relationship (than men with fewer depression symptoms), and a decrease in positive attitudes towards pregnancy and the baby (while men with fewer depression symptoms revealed an increase). Conclusion: Depression symptoms early in pregnancy may represent a risk factor to increased paternal adjustment problems and negative paternal attitudes during the transition to parenthood.

ABSTRACTCoparenting is based on parents’ representations of themselves as coparents. Attachment theory can be a useful framework to understand the way that different coparenting representations are developed during the transition to parenthood. This study aimed to analyze the association between men's attachment and coparenting representations at the first trimester of pregnancy and from the first trimester of pregnancy to 6 months’ postpartum. A sample of 86 men was recruited and completed self‐report measures of attachment and coparenting representations at the first and third trimester of pregnancy and at 1 and 6 months’ postpartum. At the first trimester of pregnancy, higher attachment avoidance was associated with higher lack of coparenting support. From the first trimester of pregnancy to 6 months’ postpartum, higher attachment avoidance was associated with (a) a steeper increase on lack of coparenting support, (b) an increase on coparenting conflict (while low attachment ...

Background: Depression symptoms may negatively affect the achievement of developmental tasks within the transition to parenthood, increasing the risk of paternal adjustment problems and negative paternal attitudes. Objective: This study analysed the effect of men's depression symptoms on paternal adjustment and paternal attitudes trajectories from the second trimester of pregnancy to six months postpartum. Methods: A sample of 127 men completed measures of depression symptoms and paternal adjustment and paternal attitudes at the second trimester of pregnancy and at six months postpartum. Results: From the second trimester of pregnancy to six months postpartum, men with more depression symptoms revealed a decrease on positive attitudes towards sex (while men with fewer depression symptoms revealed an increase), a steeper decrease in the satisfaction with marital relationship (than men with fewer depression symptoms), and a decrease in positive attitudes towards pregnancy and the baby (while men with fewer depression symptoms revealed an increase). Conclusion: Depression symptoms early in pregnancy may represent a risk factor to increased paternal adjustment problems and negative paternal attitudes during the transition to parenthood.

This study aimed to examine the psychometric characteristics of the Coparenting Relationship Scale when administered in fathers during pregnancy. During the first trimester of a partner's pregnancy, 91 primiparous fathers completed the Coparenting Relationship Scale-Father's Prenatal Version (CRS-FPV), and self-report measures of depressive and anxious symptoms, adult attachment, and partner's relationship quality. The CRS-FPV revealed good internal consistency. Exploratory factor analysis revealed four factors: lack of coparenting support, coparenting conflict, coparenting disagreement, and coparenting undermining. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a good model fit. Significant associations between the CRS-FPV and the original CRS subscales were found. Hypothesized associations between the CRS-FPV subscales and individual (depressive and anxious symptoms and adult attachment) and dyadic (partner's relationship quality) constructs were also significant. The present study suggested that the CRS-FPV is a reliable multidimensional measure to assess coparenting in fathers during pregnancy.

The association between the couple relationship and the mothers' and fathers' psychological adjustment to the transition to parenthood has been examined in the literature. However, the direction of effects between these variables has not been extensively explored. This study aimed to assess the direction of effects between mothers' and fathers' positive and negative interactions and anxiety and depression symptoms trajectories over the transition to parenthood. A sample of 129 couples (N = 258) completed self-report measures of positive and negative interactions, anxiety and depression symptoms at each trimester of pregnancy, at childbirth, and at 3- and 30-months postpartum. Dyadic growth curve models were performed using multilevel modeling. Whereas anxiety and depression showed no moderation effect on positive and negative interactions over time, negative interaction moderated depression from 3- to 30-months postpartum. Mothers and fathers with high negative inter...

Background: Little is known about the development of fathers' parenting self-efficacy during the transition to parenthood. Objectives: To analyse (1) fathers' parenting self-efficacy developmental path and (2) the effects of anxious and depressive symptoms and coparenting support on fathers' parenting self-efficacy developmental path, from the first trimester of pregnancy to 6 months postpartum. Methods: Eighty-six fathers recruited at the first trimester of pregnancy completed self-report measures of anxious and depressive symptoms, coparenting support and parenting self-efficacy at the first and third trimesters of pregnancy, and at 1 and 6 months postpartum. Growth curve models were performed. Results: An increase in fathers' parenting self-efficacy was found from the first trimester of pregnancy to 6 months postpartum. The main effects of anxious symptoms and interaction effects of anxious symptoms and time were found on fathers' parenting self-efficacy. Fathers with higher anxious symptoms revealed lower levels of parenting self-efficacy at the first trimester of pregnancy and a lower increase of parenting self-efficacy from this time to 6 months postpartum. The main effects of coparenting support were found in fathers' parenting self-efficacy. At the first trimester of pregnancy, fathers who perceived more coparenting support revealed higher levels of parenting self-efficacy. Conclusion: The present study may contribute to the literature by describing fathers' parenting self-efficacy developmental path and the effects of anxious symptoms and coparenting support on fathers' parenting self-efficacy developmental path during the transition to parenthood.

Prevalence rates of infertility show that one in every six couples worldwide have experienced fertility problems; however, there is still a relatively high chance of spontaneous conception for couples with unexplained infertility. Nevertheless, most existing research has focused on the infertility experience leading up to potential parenthood, rather than the actual parenting experience itself. Hence, this paper presents an in-depth exploration of the lived experiences and personal meaning of becoming parents of individuals affected by unexplained infertility. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and transcripts were subjected to Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Four themes emerged: perception of fragility of life, father's embodied emotional connection with child, becoming a parent-identity shift, and imprint of infertility on relationships with a partner. The findings emphasize clinicians' and researchers' awareness of the need to process couple's grief and highlight the importance of addressing romantic relationship issues, experienced during the infertility period to facilitate couples transitioning to parenthood.

Objective: To reach consensus between care providers and childbearing women about the midwife's relevant and appropriate domains and elements to support transition to motherhood.

Methods: A modified web-based Delphi study was conducted in Flanders (Belgium). After performing a systematic literature review, searching the grey literature and an online poll, a set of 79 items was generated. In two rounds, the items were presented to an expert panel of (1) care providers from various disciplines providing services to childbearing women and (2) to pregnant women and postpartum women up to 1year postpartum. Consensus was defined when 70% or more of the experts scored ≥6, 5% or less scored ≤3, and a standard deviation of ≤1.1.

Findings: In the first Delphi round, 91 experts reached consensus on 24 items. Seventeen round one items that met one or two consensus objectives were included in round two and were scored by 64 panel experts, reaching consensus on three additional items. The final 27 items covered seven domains: attributes, liaison, management of care from a woman-centred perspective, management of care from the midwife's focus, informational support, relational support, and the midwife's competencies.

ConclusionS: The shared understanding between childbearing women and care providers shows that the midwife's transitional support is multifaceted. Our findings offer midwives a standard of care, criteria, guidance, and advice on how they can support childbearing women during transition to motherhood, beyond the existing recommendations and current provision of transitional care.

This study explored the use of dynamical systems modeling techniques to evaluate self- and co-regulation of affect in couples' interactions before and after the transition to parenthood, and the impact of the Family Foundations program on these processes. Thirty-four heterosexual couples, randomized to intervention and control conditions, participated in videotaped dyadic interaction tasks at pretest (during pregnancy) and posttest (1 year after birth). Husbands' and wives' positivity and negativity were micro-coded throughout interactions. Individual negativity set-points, self-regulation, and partner co-regulatory processes during interactions were examined using a coupled oscillators model. Regarding self-regulatory processes, men exhibited amplification of negativity at the prenatal assessment that did not change at the postnatal assessment; women demonstrated no significant damping or amplification at pretest and a marginally significant change towards greater ampli...

The present study was intended to develop a measure of relational turbulence for the young married individuals in Pakistan's cultural framework. In the first phase of developing scale, 19 semistructured interviews were taken from married individuals. The married individuals were taken with inclusion criteria of 1-5 years marital duration and age between 21-40 years to generate an item pool that encompassed 45 items. Based on connection, similarity or matching themes, 29 items were finalized after 11 experts' validation and piloted on 8 participants. To determine psychometric properties of scale, Relational Turbulence Scale (RTS) was presented along with demographic sheet to 156 young married individuals (67 men, 89 women) with age range 21-40 years. Principal Component Analysis of RTS comprised of three different factors namely Lack Understanding, Apprehensions, and Lack of Support. Moreover, RTS was found to have high internal consistency (.83), test-retest reliability .83 (p < .001), split half reliability of .82 (p < .001), and acceptable convergent validity. Furthermore, results are discussed in context of factor structure of RTS, demographics, and risk factors as predictors of RTS in cultural context.

Vivências da prematuridade: a aceitação do filho real pressupõe a desconstrução do bebê imaginário? Experiences of prematurity: has the acceptance of the real child assumed the deconstruction of the imaginary baby? Vivencias de la pre-maturidad: la aceptación del hijo real presupone la destrucción del niño imaginario?

Vivências da prematuridade: a aceitação do filho real pressupõe a desconstrução do bebê imaginário? Experiences of prematurity: has the acceptance of the real child assumed the deconstruction of the imaginary baby? Vivencias de la pre-maturidad: la aceptación del hijo real presupone la destrucción del niño imaginario?

The ever-watchful eyes of society have created burdensome challenges for mothers in the 21st century, who are constantly trying to manage their emotions and daily life in accordance with the dominant discourse of what a 'good mother' should be like. The aim of the paper is to explore the 'deep story' of new mothers in Latvia, employing the theoretical framework of sociologist Arlie Hochschild and her concept of 'emotion work'. Data were gathered from ten phenomenological interviews with women with a child under the age of two. The results of the narrative analysis show that new mothers systematically apply the principles of 'emotion work' and communicate negative experiences only to selected confidants out of a fear of being condemned for not complying with the dominant narrative of motherhood. Although the 'deep story' of mothers is rather bleak, the key is open communication without judgement or patronising remarks.

And after having the baby, yeah, we got a good support from [my wife's] mum, so even after [we] came back to the home, she helped both of us-how to manage the baby, how to feed the baby, how to bath the baby. … [A]nd I get a good support from my family back in India. They're calling me regularly and asking, "How's the baby? How are you going?" …They all want to see the baby in the Skype and they want to get the photos. Nadir 9

In this paper we consider early maternal distress and clinical care, drawing on narratives of women interviewed to populate an Australian health information website. We consider the notion of 'care barriers', which has become popular in the biomedical literature as a means of explaining why 'not enough' women seek out clinical care. As an alternative to barriers we propose 'care entanglements', offering a way of conceptualizing socioculturally situated and biographically embedded formalized care. In part we argue that clinical encounters are 'haunted' by women's biographies, circulating discourses, and the relational clinical moment, which accounts for why some women reject formalized care. However we also contend that many women have in fact already 'slipped through' to the clinic, whether this be in their adoption of medical language to describe their distress, or in their enactments in designated clinical spaces. Finally we reflect more broadly on the maternal, care and distress.

This investigation examined the validity of parental reflective functioning (RF; Fonagy, Target, Steele, & Steele, 1998) which is a measure designed to assess understanding of emotions and other mental states. RF was coded based on the prebirth Adult Attachment Interviews (AAI; George, Kaplan, & Main, 1985). Parenting and coparenting quality were assessed 13 months after the birth of the target child. Correlational and factor analyses indicated considerable overlap between RF and traditional AAI coding. Exploratory factor analyses of RF and AAI state of mind scales indicated that RF loaded, along with coherence of mind, on the primary factor distinguishing between individuals categorized as secure and dismissing. Maternal RF significantly predicted paternal dyadic sensitivity and coparenting quality and marginally predicted maternal dyadic and paternal triadic sensitivity. Paternal RF did not predict parenting quality. Interestingly, fathers' RF predicted coparenting quality of daughters, and mothers' RF predicted coparenting quality of sons. These findings indicate that the RF measure is an important predictor of family functioning and warrants further investigation.

ΕΡΕΥΝΗΤΙΚΗ ΕΡΓΑΣΙΑ ΠΕΡΙΛΗΨΗ Εισαγωγή: Η αποτύπωση του βαθµού ικανοποίησης των γονέων είναι µείζονος σηµασίας για τα παιδιατρικά νοσοκοµεία, καθώς αποτελεί τη βασική συνιστώσα της αξιολόγησης της ποιότητας των παρεχόµενων υπηρεσιών στις υπηρεσίες υγείας. Σκοπός: Η εκτίµηση του βαθµού ικανοποίησης των γονέων από την παρεχόµενη φροντίδα στα νοσηλευόµενα παιδιά τους. Μεθοδολογία: Πρόκειται για µια περιγραφική µελέτη που πραγµατοποιήθηκε σε δείγµα ευκολίας γονέων που τα παιδιά τους νοσηλεύονταν σε δύο δηµόσια παιδιατρικά νοσοκοµεία της Αττικής. Η συλλογή των δεδοµένων ολοκληρώθηκε σε χρονικό διάστηµα 3 µηνών. Συλλέχθηκαν 352 ερωτηµατολόγια (ποσοστό ανταπόκρισης 88%). Οι συµµετέχοντες συµπλήρωσαν το ερωτηµατολόγιο Pyramid Questionnaire for parents of hospitalized children, που εκτιµάει το βαθµό ικανοποίησης των γονέων από την παρεχόµενη φροντίδα στο νοσηλευόµενο παιδί τους. Αποτελέσµατα: Περισσότεροι γονείς ήταν ικανοποιηµένοι από τη συµπεριφορά του ιατρονοσηλευτικού προσωπικού (81,9%), την παρεχόµενη ιατρονοσηλευτική φροντίδα (78,2%) και την πληροφόρηση των γονέων για τη νόσο του νοσηλευόµενου παιδιού (71,9%). Αντίθετα, λιγότεροι γονείς ήταν ικανοποιηµένοι από τη δυνατότητα συµµετοχής τους στη φροντίδα του νοσηλευόµενου παιδιού τους (52,3%) και την προσβασιµότητα στο νοσοκοµείο (39,5%). Η συνολική ικανοποίηση των γονέων κυµάνθηκε σε πολύ καλά επίπεδα (76,8%) και ήταν σηµαντικά υψηλότερη στο νοσοκοµείο Α (78,8%), στους έγγαµους γονείς (77,4%) και στους γονείς που δεν ανησυχούσαν καθόλου ή ανησυχούσαν ελάχιστα για την ασθένεια του παιδιού τους (83,1%). Το υπόδειγµα πολυπαραγοντικής γραµµικής παλινδρόµησης που χρησιµοποιήθηκε έδειξε ότι η νοσηλεία στο νοσοκοµείο Β και η ανησυχία σε µεγάλο βαθµό για την ασθένεια του παιδιού και τις επιπλοκές της οδηγούν στη µείωση της συνολικής ικανοποίησης κατά 24% και 17% αντίστοιχα. Συµπεράσµατα: Η εκτίµηση του βαθµού ικανοποίησης των γονέων αποτελεί τον πιο σηµαντικό δείκτη της εύρυθµης λειτουργίας των νοσοκοµείων. Από την παρούσα µελέτη φάνηκε πως ορισµένοι τοµείς, όπως η συµµετοχή των γονέων στη φροντίδα του παιδιού τους, η πληροφόρηση, η προσβασιµότητα, η επικοινωνία και η διαπροσωπική φροντίδα υγείας χρήζουν βελτίωσης, προκειµένου να υπάρχει µεγαλύτερη ικανοποίηση.

This study explores marital satisfaction, division of child tasks, and satisfaction with the division of childcare outcomes among low-income Caucasian and Mexican American (MA) couples with young children. Participants were 521 California couples, nearly three-fourths MA. Using a series of regression models to examine how ethnicity/nativity status, earner status (dual or single) and gender were related to each outcome variable; results showed that fathers generally, single-earner couples generally, dual-earner MA fathers, and MA mothers in couples with Mexican nativity were happier in their relationships. Fathers in dual-earner relationships were more involved in childcare tasks than their single-earner counterparts among Caucasians, but gender, ethnicity, and nativity differences were related to parental dissatisfactions with how childcare tasks were divided. Multivariate regression models adjusted for demographic and socioeconomic status factors changed results very little, except earner status and marital satisfaction were no longer associated. Discussion focuses on couple dynamics of sharing work and parenting roles, MA values, and implications for clinical work and future research.

The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between women&#39;s marital adjustment and sexual quality of life, and their use of family planning methods. This is a descriptive study. The sample size was calculated as 349 women. Data were collected using the personal information form, the Dyadic Adjustment Scale, and the Sexual Quality of Life Questionnaire-Female. The data obtained were analyzed using the SPSS 23.0 software by creating the database. The stat൴st൴cal s൴gn൴f൴cance level was set at 0.05. The mean scores the participants obtained from the Dyadic Adjustment Scale and Sexual Quality of Life Questionnaire-Female were 106.27±22.21 and 77.46±21.85 respectively. Of the participating women, 36.7% used an intrauterine device for birth control, 27.8% used condoms, 13.8% used hormonal drugs. No statistically significant differences were determined between the mean scores obtained from the Dyadic Adjustment Scale and between the mean scores obtained from the Sexual Qualit...

This study investigated the relationship between parenting inequalities and feelings of relationship quality, and whether those patterns differed for women and men. Using data from the nationally representative 2011 Canadian Work, Stress, and Health Survey (N = 1427), we documented the relevance of perceived unfairness of the division of parenting and the ways that employment status and work hour preferences ("mismatch") modify those relationships. We found that mothers in dual-earner households experience greater parenting inequalities than do similarly-situated fathers, net of housework inequalities. The negative association between parenting inequality and relationship quality was stronger among mothers-but that was due to perceived unfairness in the division of parenting tasks. We also observed that the detrimental effect of parenting inequality was stronger for mothers who worked part-time-but that was because of work hours mismatch: they tended to prefer to work longer hours. Our results contribute to the gendered nature of the division of parenting labor and its intersection with work hours and preferences.

This study investigated the relationship between parenting inequalities and feelings of relationship quality, and whether those patterns differed for women and men. Using data from the nationally representative 2011 Canadian Work, Stress, and Health Survey (N = 1427), we documented the relevance of perceived unfairness of the division of parenting and the ways that employment status and work hour preferences ("mismatch") modify those relationships. We found that mothers in dual-earner households experience greater parenting inequalities than do similarly-situated fathers, net of housework inequalities. The negative association between parenting inequality and relationship quality was stronger among mothers-but that was due to perceived unfairness in the division of parenting tasks. We also observed that the detrimental effect of parenting inequality was stronger for mothers who worked part-time-but that was because of work hours mismatch: they tended to prefer to work longer hours. Our results contribute to the gendered nature of the division of parenting labor and its intersection with work hours and preferences.

The birth of a first child can be stressful on intimate partner relationships and the women having their first child. Conflict can occur, and hurts might be experienced, which could lead to post-partum depression. Thus, capacity for forgiveness with specific hurts might affect post-partum depression. We investigated women having their first child (N = 52), and examined whether dyadic adjustment, trait forgiveness, and situational forgiving during pregnancy predicted postpartum depression. This study found that marital forgiveness predicted lower levels of depression above and beyond the effects of general dyadic adjustment. Dyadic adjustment and trait forgiveness predicted postpartum depression while situational forgiving was mixed. Postpartum depression researchers are encouraged to consider the inclusion of positive psychology variables, such as forgiveness, in future research studies.

This study explores marital satisfaction, division of child tasks, and satisfaction with the division of childcare outcomes among low-income Caucasian and Mexican American (MA) couples with young children. Participants were 521 California couples, nearly three-fourths MA. Using a series of regression models to examine how ethnicity/nativity status, earner status (dual or single) and gender were related to each outcome variable; results showed that fathers generally, single-earner couples generally, dual-earner MA fathers, and MA mothers in couples with Mexican nativity were happier in their relationships. Fathers in dual-earner relationships were more involved in childcare tasks than their single-earner counterparts among Caucasians, but gender, ethnicity, and nativity differences were related to parental dissatisfactions with how childcare tasks were divided. Multivariate regression models adjusted for demographic and socioeconomic status factors changed results very little, except earner status and marital satisfaction were no longer associated. Discussion focuses on couple dynamics of sharing work and parenting roles, MA values, and implications for clinical work and future research.

This study examines two overlapping longitudinal samples of U.S. couples with children, covering a period of 15 years after the first child's birth. The first sample extended from the pregnancy with a first child until that child was 5.5 years old; the second from ages 4.5 to 14.5. Growth curve analyses revealed that marital satisfaction declined over 15 years for both husbands and wives. Attachment security measured in the second sample was associated with greater marital satisfaction, but did not buffer against declines in marital satisfaction over time. Husbands' lower initial level of marital satisfaction measured around the first child's transition to school was the only significant predictor of marital dissolution. The discussion emphasizes theoretical and practical implications of these findings. Attachment, marital satisfaction, and divorce in the first fifteen years of parenthood Many married individuals experience significant changes in their lives after they become parents, including identity changes, shifting roles in the marriage and outside the family, and changes in the relationship with their own parents. How do couple relationships fare over time after partners become parents, and what are the factors that predict the long-term marital success of these couples? Over the past 50 years, a number of researchers have proposed that marital satisfaction peaks around the time of the wedding and tends to decline from that point on (e.g., Burgess & Wallin, 1953; Vailliant & Vailliant, 1993). Nonetheless, some recent evidence suggests that when children leave home couples experience an increase in their marital satisfaction (Gorchoff, John, & Helson, 2008). The transition to parenthood is a particularly important milestone event in a marriage that provides excitement and joy, but is also often related to distress in the individual parents. Thus, the

This study explores marital satisfaction, division of child tasks, and satisfaction with the division of childcare outcomes among low-income Caucasian and Mexican American (MA) couples with young children. Participants were 521 California couples, nearly three-fourths MA. Using a series of regression models to examine how ethnicity/nativity status, earner status (dual or single) and gender were related to each outcome variable; results showed that fathers generally, single-earner couples generally, dual-earner MA fathers, and MA mothers in couples with Mexican nativity were happier in their relationships. Fathers in dual-earner relationships were more involved in childcare tasks than their single-earner counterparts among Caucasians, but gender, ethnicity, and nativity differences were related to parental dissatisfactions with how childcare tasks were divided. Multivariate regression models adjusted for demographic and socioeconomic status factors changed results very little, except earner status and marital satisfaction were no longer associated. Discussion focuses on couple dynamics of sharing work and parenting roles, MA values, and implications for clinical work and future research.

Considering narration and psychoanalysis as processes of interpreting human experience, a narrative was developed to investigate the collective imaginary about motherhood. It is a fictional story elaborated by the researchers based on their clinical experience with pregnant women. When the interactive narrative reaches a climax, the researcher interrupts the story and invites the participants to complete it. Subsequently, the researcher and participants discuss the addressed topic and their own experiences during the writing process. In the present study, an interactive narrative about a couple which faces the possibility of having a baby with Down syndrome was presented to two groups of undergraduate Pedagogy and Psychology students. The psychoanalytical consideration of the narratives completed suggested expectations of an idealized mother who would accept her child unconditionally despite the implied sacrifice and her own feelings and a strong and protective father, when present....

Transition to parenthood represents an important life event increasing vulnerability to psychological disorders. Postpartum depression and parenting distress are the most common psychological disturbances and a growing scientific evidence suggests that both mothers and fathers are involved in this developmental crisis. This paper aims to explore maternal and paternal experience of transition to parenthood in terms of parenting distress and risk of postpartum depression. Seventy-five couples of first-time parents were invited to compile the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form in the first month of children life. Study sample reported very high levels of parenting distress and a risk of postpartum depression in 20.8% of mothers and 5.7% of fathers. No significant correlation between parenting distress and the risk of postpartum depression emerged, both in mothers than in fathers group while maternal distress levels are related to paternal one...

This study aimed to examine the psychometric characteristics of the Coparenting Relationship Scale when administered in fathers during pregnancy. During the first trimester of a partner's pregnancy, 91 primiparous fathers completed the Coparenting Relationship Scale-Father's Prenatal Version (CRS-FPV), and self-report measures of depressive and anxious symptoms, adult attachment, and partner's relationship quality. The CRS-FPV revealed good internal consistency. Exploratory factor analysis revealed four factors: lack of coparenting support, coparenting conflict, coparenting disagreement, and coparenting undermining. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a good model fit. Significant associations between the CRS-FPV and the original CRS subscales were found. Hypothesized associations between the CRS-FPV subscales and individual (depressive and anxious symptoms and adult attachment) and dyadic (partner's relationship quality) constructs were also significant. The present study suggested that the CRS-FPV is a reliable multidimensional measure to assess coparenting in fathers during pregnancy.

Background: Little is known about the development of fathers' parenting self-efficacy during the transition to parenthood. Objectives: To analyse (1) fathers' parenting self-efficacy developmental path and (2) the effects of anxious and depressive symptoms and coparenting support on fathers' parenting self-efficacy developmental path, from the first trimester of pregnancy to 6 months postpartum. Methods: Eighty-six fathers recruited at the first trimester of pregnancy completed self-report measures of anxious and depressive symptoms, coparenting support and parenting self-efficacy at the first and third trimesters of pregnancy, and at 1 and 6 months postpartum. Growth curve models were performed. Results: An increase in fathers' parenting self-efficacy was found from the first trimester of pregnancy to 6 months postpartum. The main effects of anxious symptoms and interaction effects of anxious symptoms and time were found on fathers' parenting self-efficacy. Fathers with higher anxious symptoms revealed lower levels of parenting self-efficacy at the first trimester of pregnancy and a lower increase of parenting self-efficacy from this time to 6 months postpartum. The main effects of coparenting support were found in fathers' parenting self-efficacy. At the first trimester of pregnancy, fathers who perceived more coparenting support revealed higher levels of parenting self-efficacy. Conclusion: The present study may contribute to the literature by describing fathers' parenting self-efficacy developmental path and the effects of anxious symptoms and coparenting support on fathers' parenting self-efficacy developmental path during the transition to parenthood.

Background: Fatigue is prevalent in new parents and is associated with poorer functional performance and cognitive functioning. This can be particularly detrimental during the transition to parenthood when parents are adapting to new roles and demands. Examining the course of fatigue and related factors can provide important avenues for intervention and prevention. Methods: In this longitudinal study, we assessed fatigue and its correlates in 108 mother/father couples. Multilevel modelling examined the prevalence and trajectory of fatigue across the transition to parenthood, as well as factors associated with post-partum fatigue. Parents completed measures of fatigue, prenatal stress, depression and health, and post-natal parental sleep quality, infant sleep duration, and infant negativity. Results: Mothers' and fathers' fatigue increased following the birth of their infant and remained at high levels. Poor sleep quality, stress, and depression were associated with maternal and paternal fatigue, while infant characteristics were more strongly associated with maternal fatigue. Prenatal depressive symptoms, parental sleep quality, infant sleep duration, and the interaction of gender by prenatal fatigue predicted post-natal fatigue in our model. Conclusion: Our results highlight the need for health professionals to educate new parents about fatigue and its management beyond the prenatal period. As correlates of fatigue for mothers and fathers differ, we need to expand our understanding of paternal fatigue and develop interventions tailored to their unique experiences. Key Points 1 Canadian mothers and fathers report high levels of fatigue across the transition to parenthood and would benefit from education on fatigue and its management prenatally and post-natally. 2 The finding that fatigue was associated with mothers' psychological functioning early in the post-partum period and fathers' psychological functioning later in the post-partum period may be related to Canadian paternity leave policies and needs further study. 3 The sources of fatigue may differ for mothers and fathers, and this needs to be taken into account by health professionals for prevention and intervention efforts.

The association between the couple relationship and the mothers&#39; and fathers&#39; psychological adjustment to the transition to parenthood has been examined in the literature. However, the direction of effects between these variables has not been extensively explored. This study aimed to assess the direction of effects between mothers&#39; and fathers&#39; positive and negative interactions and anxiety and depression symptoms trajectories over the transition to parenthood. A sample of 129 couples (N = 258) completed self-report measures of positive and negative interactions, anxiety and depression symptoms at each trimester of pregnancy, at childbirth, and at 3- and 30-months postpartum. Dyadic growth curve models were performed using multilevel modeling. Whereas anxiety and depression showed no moderation effect on positive and negative interactions over time, negative interaction moderated depression from 3- to 30-months postpartum. Mothers and fathers with high negative inter...

is to encourage research on the ethical, legal and social implications of new medical technologies. Its main activities are to host visiting researchers and to organize symposia, workshops and summer academies. More information on the Brocher foundation programme is available at www.brocher.ch.

For all couples, regardless of sexual orientation, transition to parenthood often increases stress, although, according to minority stress theory (MST), same-sex couples often experience additional stressors specifically related to their sexual orientation. In this study of 34 same-sex female couples (68 sexual minority mothers) who conceived their children with the use of sperm donation, we explored the intrapersonal and interpersonal influences of sexuality-related stigma, sexual identity, sexuality disclosure ("outness"), and social support on the wellbeing of each partner among these couples. We found support for MST, although the process worked differently based on the mother's role. Among the pregnant (gestational) mothers, personal experiences of sexuality related stigma, social support, and sexual identity disclosure were all associated with their individual wellbeing. In contrast, among the non-pregnant (non-gestational) mothers, these associations were more interpersonal in nature. Specifically, the non-gestational mothers' wellbeing was unrelated to their personal experiences of sexuality stigma but was associated with their partner's (the gestational mother's) reports of sexual identity centrality and affirmation and support from friends. In all, we found support for MST, such that greater sexuality stigma was associated with poorer wellbeing, but this relationship functioned differently depending on the mother's role.

On the basis of a qualitative longitudinal study of 14 German couples, the conditions that are necessary and sufficient for an equal division of labour in the transition to parenthood are examined in an explorative way. Based on the assumption that couples with educational homogamy on a high level are probably more prone and sufficiently assertive to establish egalitarian relationships, we show that such arrangements cannot be sustained or achieved without the existence of specific contiguous conditions. A comparison of attitudes, family values and norms with actual everyday routines also suggests in many cases the well-known “verbal open-mindedness and rigid behaviour”.

This study examines the identity transition of women when they become mothers and return to work. Twenty-two first-time mothers were interviewed at two points in time: just after giving birth and on re-entry into employment after maternity leave. The findings suggest that this transition is influenced by multiple factors on different levels which include individual factors, such as partner support and career aspirations, organisational factors such as familyfriendly work practices and role models, and societal factors such as social norms and attitudes towards the maternal body. The findings highlight the importance of context by stressing the interrelated nature of factors on micro-, meso-and macro-level in order to better understand the identity transition to motherhood.