No description available.

Factors influencing adjustments in the transition to parenthood are identified and strategies for support in Britain and the USA are reviewed through participant-observation of 20 USA programmes (N=94 parents). A longitudinal British study, using a wide range of self report measures and in-depth interviews at three time points (1) examined key features of the transition to parenthood for a low risk sample of women (N=106) and men (N=106), and compared adjustments of 52 couples who participated in a new support programme with 54 couples who did not. The programme combined a group-based and home visit model which either began in pregnancy and continued postnatally, or began postnatally. The programme focused on the psychological dimensions of the transition to parenthood, with the intersubjectivity of the couple and parent-infant relationship at the core of the integrative model. Evidence is provided that the transition to parenthood is more complex than previous studies assume. A substantial number of the "low risk" women and men appeared to experience psychological distress and the main concern of women and men were different from the agenda of hospital based antenatal classes. A number of gender differences were found but partners were the main source of support for women and men. Women and men in the support group were comfortable to disclose explicit details about their experiences. At 6 months postnatally, their adjustments were more positive than women and men on the control for aspects of (a) confidence as a parent; (b) satisfaction with the couple relationship ; (c) satisfaction with the parent-infant relationship; (d) coping strategies, and (e) separation anxiety. Implications for theory, research and practice are discussed.

No description available.

No description available.

<p>Postpartum depression (PPD) is a mental health condition present in 13% of new mothers. It is a serious public health issue that profoundly impacts the health of mothers, their children, and their partners. While the short- and long-term implications of maternal mental health for children’s growth and development have been well documented, little has been written about the impact of maternal PPD on partners. In particular, the effects of PPD on new fathers have received little attention. This qualitative descriptive study examined, through the sharing of photographs by participants and in-depth interviews (n = 10), the experience of the transition to parenthood for first-time fathers whose partners have PPD. It also compared their expectations of fatherhood with the lived reality of the experience and explored fathers’ perceptions of, and access to, health services and supports. The main themes that emerged from the data analysis were: From two to three, Connecting with baby, PPD and the partner relationship, Heightened involvement with baby, and Available and desired supports. Sub-themes that captured more specific patterns in the data also were identified. The study findings have implications for establishing best practices that are inclusive of support and education for partners.</p> / Master of Science (MSc)

<p>Härtill 5 uppsatser.</p> / digitalisering@umu

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Family Studies and Human Services / Walter R. Schumm / Farrell J. Webb / Previous research on the transition to parenthood has focused predominantly on middle-class White married mothers. The present research expands upon this literature by evaluating the transition of non-married, low-income, White and Women of color experiences as new mothers in their transition to parenthood. This investigation uses the Fragile Families Child Wellbeing Study. Data from 1,195 first time mothers were examined. Baseline data on mothers, as well as one-year follow-up data, were used to evaluate the New Mothers’ Relationship Satisfaction Model. This model was developed as a response to the current literature and theory as it related to low-income, people of color, and single never married women who have been overlooked or ignored in the literature. The New Mothers’ Relationship Satisfaction Model examines the effects of expectation fulfillment, father’s behavior, experience of motherhood and family support on mothers’ relationship satisfaction. The model was then used to evaluate different groups of mothers based on their race/ethnicity and then their relationship status. Findings indicated race/ethnicity and relationship status differences among several of the constructs in the New Mothers’ Relationship Satisfaction Model. For some women the experience of motherhood and father’s behavior did not have a significant effect of their relationship satisfaction as predicted by the current literature. This investigation takes the first step in providing a comparison group of new mothers that have been overlooked by much of the research in this area. This research underscores the importance of differences that exist in mothers’ transition to parenthood and points to a need for further research with more diverse populations. Social scientists interested in the transition to parenthood must focus their research and theory on a more diverse population of new mothers in order to fully understand and give meaning to this experience.

<p>Syftet med denna uppsats var att undersöka hur deltagare upplever en föräldragrupps innehåll och utförande på ett familjecentrum. Studien genomfördes med en kvalitativ ansats, där åtta föräldrar intervjuades. Datamaterial bearbetades och analyserades med hjälp av en kvalitativ manifest innehållsanalys, och studiens teoretiska tolkningsram utgjordes av ett systemteoretiskt perspektiv, Putnams och Bourdieus teori om socialt kapital samt Eriksons psykosociala utvecklingsteori. Betydelsefulla resultat var att föräldragruppen upplevdes som viktig, framför allt för att etablera nya sociala kontakter, uppleva trygghet och stöd från andra nyblivna föräldrar. Det var även viktigt med en ledare med social kompetens, där lyhördhet och flexibilitet var några betydelsefulla egenskaper. Det framkom också att den information som gavs inte var mest väsentlig, utan att den sociala interaktionen mellan föräldrarna var främsta anledning till deltagandet. Att bli förälder var även något som resultatet visade vara påfrestande för både individ och parrelation.</p> / <p>The purpose of this study was to examine how participants experience the content and design, in a parent group. The study was conducted with a qualitative approach, in which eight parents were interviewed. Data material has been processed and analyzed with a qualitative manifest content analysis, and the study's theoretical framework consider primarily the perspective of systems, Putnam's and Bourdieu's theory of social capital and Erikson's psychosocial development theory. Significant results were that the parent group was perceived as important, especially to establish new social contacts, experience and safeness reliance from another first-time parent. It was also important to have a leader with social competence, where sensitivity and flexibility were significant quality. It also emerged that the information that was provided was not the most significant, instead the interaction between the parents was the main reason for participation. The results also show that becoming a parent was a draining process both to themselves and their relationship</p><p>.</p>

Labor division is highly gendered in Germany, especially after the transition to parenthood. When having a child, more women than men are taking parental leave, and mainly women do the additional household chores. While many studies have looked at the distribution of labor across the transition to parenthood, few studies have investigated how this distribution is perceived. This study explores the perceived fairness of the division of labor in a partnership before and after the transition to parenthood using ordinary least squares (OLS) and fixed-effects regressions. As the focus is set on Germany, the data for the analysis derive from pairfam, a German panel study launched in 2008. The results show that men’s perceived fairness of the division of labor is hardly affected by the transition to fatherhood. For women, in contrast, motherhood leads to a higher perception of fairness. Employment thereby mediates this relationship by decreasing the effect the transition to motherhood has on the fairness. The findings hint to a dissatisfaction of employed women with the distribution of paid and unpaid work after transitioning to parenthood.

Syftet med denna uppsats var att undersöka hur deltagare upplever en föräldragrupps innehåll och utförande på ett familjecentrum. Studien genomfördes med en kvalitativ ansats, där åtta föräldrar intervjuades. Datamaterial bearbetades och analyserades med hjälp av en kvalitativ manifest innehållsanalys, och studiens teoretiska tolkningsram utgjordes av ett systemteoretiskt perspektiv, Putnams och Bourdieus teori om socialt kapital samt Eriksons psykosociala utvecklingsteori. Betydelsefulla resultat var att föräldragruppen upplevdes som viktig, framför allt för att etablera nya sociala kontakter, uppleva trygghet och stöd från andra nyblivna föräldrar. Det var även viktigt med en ledare med social kompetens, där lyhördhet och flexibilitet var några betydelsefulla egenskaper. Det framkom också att den information som gavs inte var mest väsentlig, utan att den sociala interaktionen mellan föräldrarna var främsta anledning till deltagandet. Att bli förälder var även något som resultatet visade vara påfrestande för både individ och parrelation. / The purpose of this study was to examine how participants experience the content and design, in a parent group. The study was conducted with a qualitative approach, in which eight parents were interviewed. Data material has been processed and analyzed with a qualitative manifest content analysis, and the study's theoretical framework consider primarily the perspective of systems, Putnam's and Bourdieu's theory of social capital and Erikson's psychosocial development theory. Significant results were that the parent group was perceived as important, especially to establish new social contacts, experience and safeness reliance from another first-time parent. It was also important to have a leader with social competence, where sensitivity and flexibility were significant quality. It also emerged that the information that was provided was not the most significant, instead the interaction between the parents was the main reason for participation. The results also show that becoming a parent was a draining process both to themselves and their relationship .