The quality of the parenting alliance during the transition to parenthood.

Abstract

This study of 151 couples expecting their first child investigated a 2-mediator model in which parents' insecure romantic attachment was related to 2 mediators: partners' relationship adjustment and changes in relationship adjustment, which were both associated with the quality of their parenting alliance. Couples completed questionnaires about romantic attachment, relationship adjustment, and the coparenting relationship during the third trimester of the pregnancy and at 6 months postpartum. Results showed that the postnatal quality of partners' union mediated the association between prenatal insecure attachment and postnatal coparenting quality for both men and women. Men's prenatal insecure attachment also predicted changes in their relationship adjustment across the transition. This study provides evidence that relationship adjustment is foundational to couples' psychological preparedness for coparenting.

Anxiety and psychological wellbeing in couples in transition to parenthood

“…As Ohashi and Asano (2012) note, stress levels increase after childbirth because of the demands of parenting and the difficulties in harmonizing with other roles, including marital. Our results are in line with those of Bouchard (2014) indicating that despite how stressful parenting can be, anxiety levels may depend on personal and partner's resources and capacity to tackle these changes.…”

“…Typically, it begins with pregnancy (or for some couples even before pregnancy, with planning, fertility tests, or by taking prenatal vitamins) and ends a few months after birth. During the transition to parenthood, the couple undergoes a profound transformation, differentiating their relationship into two subsystems: the conjugal dynamics and the co-parenting dynamics (Bouchard, 2014). Some authors suggest that couples become more dissatisfied with their relationship after having children, because the arrival of a new member requires the reorganization of the family dynamics, which can be experienced as a "crisis" (Twenge, Campbell, & Foster, 2003).…”

“…The adjustment that occurs during the transition to parenthood differs significantly by sex. Thus, women tend to report higher levels of stress and greater decrease in marital satisfaction than their partners (Bouchard, 2014;Gameiro, Moura-Ramos, Canavarro, Almeida-Santos, & Dattilio, 2011), as well as greater changes in lifestyles and routines (Deave et al, 2008). Nevertheless, in some cases the transition to parenthood may not lead to negative effects (Twenge et al, 2003).…”

Diferencias por género en una validación de un instrumento para evaluar la felicidad en una muestra de estudiantes de secundaria

“…Sin embargo, para ambos géneros, las categorías en las que se establecen las puntuaciones más altas son las mismas (Condiciones de vida negativas). Son varios los trabajos que indican una relación idéntica a la descrita, en función de la variable sociodemográfica que se está considerando en este momento (Bouchard, 2014). Según este tipo de trabajos, los varones percibirían más la presencia de emociones positivas, teniendo mayor satisfacción Finalmente indicar que, para ser la primera validación, los resultados iniciales nos permiten ser optimistas con respecto a los elementos a corregir para depurar este instrumento de evaluación de los estados emocionales.…”

Predictores de la Felicidad y la Inteligencia Emocional en la Educación Secundaria

“…En esta ocasión los varones fueron quienes demostraron niveles superiores en cuanto a la satisfacción personal (felicidad). Son numerosos los trabajos que indican una relación idéntica a la descrita, en función del género (Bouchard, 2014;Quiceno & Vinaccia, 2015;Vélez, López, & Rajmil, 2009). Según este tipo de estudios, los varones perciben mejor la presencia de emociones positivas, teniendo mayor satisfacción por la vida, mejor aceptación de su aspecto físico e imagen corporal, y más seguridad y confianza consigo mismos que las mujeres (Quiceno & Vinaccia, 2015).…”