Return to search

Intergenerational transmission of relationship functioning during the transition to parenthood

The current study examined whether pre-birth risk factors mediate the relation
between family of origin risk factors and couples’ relationship functioning after birth.
Participants in the present study were 132 heterosexual couples who had their first child
during the course of a larger, longitudinal study (Laurenceau et al., 2004).
Results showed several significant mediation effects for both mothers and
fathers. Additionally, for fathers, family-of-origin factors did not appear to directly
influence their transition to parenthood, but were related to functioning before birth. For
mothers, family-of-origin risk factors appeared to both directly and indirectly influence
their relationship functioning after the birth of a child.
Information on how pre-birth functioning risk factors mediate family of origin
risk factors to the transition to parenthood is useful to psychologists who wish to
intervene and assist at risk couples through the transition. This study contributes to the
literature by illustrating a more complete picture of which individuals may be at risk
during the transition to parenthood, which will allow psychologists to tailor their
interventions to those it will help most.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:tamu.edu/oai:repository.tamu.edu:1969.1/ETD-TAMU-3240
Date15 May 2009
CreatorsCarhart, Kathryn
ContributorsDoss, Brian D.
Source SetsTexas A and M University
Languageen_US
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeBook, Thesis, Electronic Thesis, text
Formatelectronic, application/pdf, born digital

Page generated in 0.0018 seconds