Prenatal Representations of Family in Parents and Coparental Interactions as Predictors of Triadic Interactions During Infancy

Abstract

In this study, we explored the predictive role of family interactions and family representations in mothers and fathers during pregnancy for postnatal mother-father-infant interactions during the first 2 years after birth. Families (N = 42) were seen at the fifth month of pregnancy and at 3 and 18 months after birth. During pregnancy, parents were asked to play with their baby at the first meeting by using a doll in accordance with the procedure of the prenatal Lausanne Trilogue Play (LTP;Corboz-Warnery, 2010). Family representations were assessed by administering the Family System Test (T. Gehring, 1998). Marital satisfaction and the history of the couple were assessed through self-reported questionnaires. At 3 and 18 months, family interactions were assessed in the postnatal LTP. Infant temperament was assessed through parent reports. Results show that (a) prenatal interactions and child temperament are the most important predictors of family interactions and (b) paternal representations are predictive of family interactions at 3 months. These results show that observational assessment of "nascent" family interactions is possible during pregnancy, which would allow early screening of family maladjustment. The findings also highlight the necessity of taking into account paternal representations as a significant variable in the development of family interactions.

Associations between prenatal coparenting behavior and observed coparenting behavior at 9-months postpartum.

“…Although prior research has linked prenatal perceptions and representations of coparenting to postpartum coparenting behavior (McHale et al, 2004; McHale & Rotman, 2007), and has connected prenatal coparenting behavior to postnatal family alliance (Carneiro et al, 2006; Favez et al, 2013), this is the first study documenting continuity between prenatal and postnatal coparenting behaviors. Even after controlling for both observed couple behavior and reported relationship functioning, partners who engaged in higher quality prenatal coparenting behavior in the PLTP showed greater supportive coparenting and less undermining coparenting behavior at 9 months postpartum.…”

“…Instead, because the PLTP was adapted from the original, postnatal Lausanne Trilogue Play procedure (Fivaz-Depeursinge & Corboz-Warnery, 1999), which was designed to assess family alliance via mother-father-infant triadic interactions, research using the PLTP has focused on its ability to predict subsequent family alliance (Carneiro et al, 2006; Favez et al, 2012; Favez, Frascarolo, Lavanchy Scaiola, & Corboz-Warnery, 2013). However, family alliance quality is not synonymous with coparenting behavior.…”

“…Prior studies that have used prenatal coparenting behavior assessed in the PLTP to predict postnatal family alliance have controlled for self-reports of couple functioning (e.g., Favez et al, 2012, 2013), but given that self-reports and observations are often unrelated (Lorenz, Melby, Conger, & Xu, 2007), these represent weak controls. In order to ascertain that coparenting develops prenatally it is critical to distinguish the coparenting and couple relationships behaviorally.…”

The Role of Father Involvement and Marital Satisfaction in the Development of Family Interactive Abilities: A Multilevel Approach

“…Moreover, thanks to its prenatal version (Prenatal LTP; Carneiro et al, 2006), it permits the examination of the co-parental interactive behaviors during pregnancy, in accordance with the definition of co-parenting as the quality of the coordination presented by the interactive exchanges between two parents while they are taking care of their child (Minuchin, 1974; McHale, 1995). Continuity has been attested between expectant parents’ exchanges and postnatal co-parental interactive features, and prenatal interactions are recognized as one of the most important predictors of later family interactions’ quality (Carneiro et al, 2006; Simonelli et al, 2012; Favez et al, 2013). Thus, co-parental abilities during pregnancy can be conceived as an interactive matrix for the construction of early family relationships.…”

“…On one side, studies (Favez et al, 2006a, 2013) reported the absence of a link between marital satisfaction and the quality of family interactions. On another side, an association has been detected between marital satisfaction in the prenatal period and the evolution of family interactions over the first 18 months of child’s life (Favez et al, 2006b; Darwiche et al, 2015), with high marital satisfaction predicting a decreasing pattern of family interactions.…”