(Mis‐)Coordinating identities in the transition to parenthood: Investigating the co‐development of partners’ parenting, domestic and provider identities before and after the birth of the first child

Abstract

This research takes a socio‐psychological perspective to studying the transition to parenthood, by longitudinally investigating how couples dyadically coordinate: (a) the changing centralities of parenting domestic and provider identities, and (b) the consequences of this for stress and relationship satisfaction. We collected longitudinal data from a Swiss community sample of 213 heterosexual, first‐time parents, in approximately the 24th week of pregnancy (T1) and 2 years later (T2). Participants completed a sociogram task, sketching the centrality of parenting, domestic and provider identities, for themselves and their partner. We applied actor partner interdependence models to model changing identity centralities at T2, from the (coordination) of T1 identities, distinguishing effects due to one's partner and the individual. Results support identity coordination in couples, especially in the development of the domestic identity. This coordination also had longitudinal effects for couples’ well‐being. Results emphasize the social forces that structure the self‐concept, and their health consequences.

Measuring “we‐ness” in couple relationships: A social identity approach

“…Family identification has been found to predict reduced depression and better physical health (Sani et al, 2012 ; Wakefield et al, 2016 ). In another example of how social identity processes are relevant to couple relationships, a large Swiss longitudinal study found that couples who coordinate their parenting identities (e.g., where one member of the couple identifies with a provider identity and the other with a domestic identity) had better wellbeing 2 years later (Turner‐Zwinkels & Spini, 2020 ).…”