A Meta‐analytic Study of Couple Interventions During the Transition to Parenthood

The present meta‐analysis integrates results of 21 controlled couple‐focused interventions with expectant and new parents. The interventions had, on average, small effects on couple communication (d = .28 standard deviation units) and psychological well‐being (d = .21), as well as very small effects on couple adjustment (d = .09). Stronger effects emerged if the intervention included more than five sessions, included an antenatal and postnatal component, and was led by professionals rather than semiprofessionals.