First-time mothers' and fathers' transition to parenthood: infant care self-efficacy, parenting satisfaction, and infant sex

The threefold purposes of our study were to determine differences between first-time mothers' and fathers' development of infant care self-efficacy and parenting satisfaction, relationships between mothers' and fathers' infant care self-efficacy and parenting satisfaction, and the effect of infant sex on the development of mothers' and fathers' infant care self-efficacy and parenting satisfaction during the first 4 months following the infant's birth. A convenience sample of 44 couples in a midwestern state completed the Demographic Questionnaire, the Infant Care Survey, and What Being the Parent of a New Baby is Like-Revised. Fathers' reports of infant care self-efficacy increased linearly during the first 4 months following the infant's birth while mothers' reports of infant care self-efficacy increased linearly during the first 3 months. At all data collection times, fathers reported significantly lower infant care self-efficacy than mothers. Reports of parenting satisfaction increased over time for mothers and fathers. At 8, 12, and 16 weeks following the infant's birth, mothers' infant care self-efficacy scores were significantly related to their parenting satisfaction scores. Fathers' infant care self-efficacy scores were significantly related to their parenting satisfaction scores at 12 and 16 weeks. Fathers of male infants had significantly higher parenting satisfaction scores than fathers of female infants at 12 and 16 weeks following the infant's birth. Nurses can develop individualized interventions to assist mothers and fathers during the transition to parenthood.     

Effects of the New Fathers Network on first-time fathers' parenting self-efficacy and parenting satisfaction during the transition to parenthood

The effectiveness of an Internet-based intervention, the New Fathers Network, was tested in improving first-time fathers' parenting self-efficacy and parenting satisfaction during the first 8 weeks following their infants' birth as compared with no intervention (Comparison Group). Parenting self-efficacy and satisfaction scores for the Intervention Group significantly improved from 4 to 8 weeks; parenting self-efficacy and satisfaction scores for the Comparison Group to which no intervention was given did not change significantly. Participants were primarily satisfied with the New Fathers Network.     

Spousal differences in marital satisfaction during transition to parenthood

Ninety-six couples were assessed to determine the contributions of sex role attitudes, marital equity, perceived father involvement, and infant temperament to satisfaction during transition to parenthood. Both parents reported a significant decline in marital satisfaction from 3 months prebirth to 3 months postbirth. Mothers' evaluations of their postbirth marital relationships were positively influenced by more nontraditional sex role attitudes and greater father involvement in infant care, and negatively influenced by marital inequity and a more temperamentally active infant. Fathers' postbirth marital satisfaction was more negatively influenced by marital inequity than mothers'. Other factors did not contribute to fathers' marital assessment. Results suggest that a mother's perception of marital satisfaction after parenthood is more complex than a father's, and that equity is a greater consideration for men than for women during the transition to parenthood.     

Measurement of parenting self-efficacy and outcome expectancy related to discussions about sex.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of two scales--one to measure the self-efficacy of parents to discuss sexual health issues with their adolescents and the other to measure parents' outcome expectancy associated with such discussions. Understanding how parents feel about their confidence in talking with their children about important sexual health issues and the outcomes they expect as a result of such discussions can be useful in guiding both the development and refinement of educational programs to promote parent-child discussions. The responses of 491 mothers who participated in an HIV prevention intervention with their adolescents were used for the present analysis. Mothers ranged in age from 25 to 68 years with a mean of 37.9 years (SD = 6.9). Of mother participants, 33% were married, 96.7% were African American, and 89.2% had completed high school. Their adolescents ranged in age from 11 to 14 years, and 61.5% were male. Assessment of reliability for both scales showed that internal consistency reliability was acceptable for the total scales as well as three of the five subscales. With the exception of one item on the outcome expectancy scale, the inter-item correlations, the mean inter-item correlations, and the item-to-total correlations meet the standard criteria for scale development for both scales. Factor analysis was used to identify the underlying structure of the scales, and hypothesis testing was used to assess construct validity. The results of these analyses provide support for the construct validity of the scales.     

Consensus about the marital relationship during transition to parenthood

This research was designed to identify anticipated and actual postpartum concerns about the marriage relationship during the period of transition to parenthood. It also investigated: (1) the accuracy of prediction of postpartum concerns by the prenatal group; (2) states of consensus within the marital dyad regarding the importance of postpartum concerns; and (3) the relationship between communication about the concerns and the relative importance of concerns. Twenty-two couples expecting their first child were randomly assigned to either the prenatal or postpartum interview groups. Husbands and wives individually rank-ordered 35 postpartum concerns from Most Important to Least Important and estimated how their spouses would rank the concerns. Husbands and wives also indicated the three concerns they discussed the most and the three they discussed the least. Couples tended to discuss most often those concerns they ranked most important. However, there were only moderate levels of agreement on the importance of concerns, discrepancies between perceived agreement and actual agreement, and low to moderate levels of accuracy in estimating the importance of concerns for spouses.     

Infant behavior and the transition to parenthood

The effects of infant behavior on the transition to parenthood were examined. The primary interest was the relationship between the amount of obligatory infant behavior (behavior that required action on the part of the parents) and the parents' perceptions both of their transition to parenthood and of their infant in terms of an "average" baby. The concepts of normative change, parental perceptions of role competence, and parental self-esteem were examined as intervening variables. Data were collected in the last trimester of pregnancy and at one month after delivery. Findings indicated that the amount of obligatory infant behavior does have an effect on the ease of transition to parenthood and on both parents' perceptions of the infant. The relationships in the research model were found to be better supported for mothers than for fathers, but most of the predicted relationships were supported for both. Fathers experienced less normative change than mothers, and made an easier transition. Mothers, on the other hand, reported higher self-perceptions of role competence.     

The Swedish family: transition to parenthood

Family interaction during pregnancy and the transition to parenthood creates the social environment in which the fetus becomes part of the family, family relationships and roles are reorganized, and the infant's temperament appears. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among family dynamics, parental-fetal attachment, and infant temperament across the transition to parenthood. A sample of 91 families in Helsingborg, Sweden completed the Family Dynamics Measure and the Maternal/Paternal Fetal Attachment Scale during the third trimester of pregnancy. When the infant was 8-9 months old, mothers (n = 62) and fathers (n = 54) again completed the Family Dynamics Measure. The mother completed the Revised Infant Temperament Questionnaire as well. Overall, we found small changes in family dynamics, with an increase in perceived role conflict and mutuality reported by mothers. Fathers reported greater fetal attachment than their partners. Greater paternal- and maternal fetal attachment was related to more positive family dynamics, and maternal-fetal attachment was positively related to infant mood at 8 months. The stability of family dynamics across the transition to parenthood is a sign that most families negotiate this transition without difficulty.     

Predictors of parental sense of competence for the couple during the transition to parenthood

The purpose of this longitudinal panel study was to determine whether changes occur in parents' satisfaction with family functioning and in the importance they attribute to family relationships during the transition to parenthood, and whether these variables Predict parental sense of competence in 114 couples. Repeated measures ANOVA and paired t-test analyses supported a significant decline in satisfaction with family functioning for mothers and fathers. Prenatal conditions contributed to variations in parents' satisfaction with family functioning. Importance of family relationships did not change across time for mothers and remained significantly (p<.05) greater at each test period than for fathers. Multiple regression analyses showed that satisfaction with family functioning was significantly (p<.05) more important for mothers' parental sense of competence than it was for fathers'. This knowledge can contribute to strategies for identifying problems that can be addressed through family-based interventions.     

Family training: supporting mothers and fathers in the transition to parenthood

This study discusses the views of mothers and fathers on family training and on how family training supports them in the transition to parenthood The data were collected in 1993, using a questionnaire submitted about 9 weeks after the birth of a child The same questions were asked of the 189 mothers and the 127 fathers who replied According to the results both mothers and fathers consider it essential that their views and expectations are given due attention in the planning of family training Specific issues that were thought to require priority attention in family training were the actual process of childbirth, themes related to parenthood, pain alleviation during labour, and abnormal childbirth Less importance was attached to the themes of sex, contraception and certain aspects of health education Both mothers and fathers agreed that they had had ample opportunity to talk with their group leaders and that there had been enough lectures By contrast, it was widely felt that there was not sufficient opportunity to talk with other group members It is suggested that efforts be continued to further develop family training schemes so that they offer not only more support to families but also better opportunities for open discussion     

Facilitation of parenting the premature infant within the newborn intensive care unit

A challenge facing neonatal health care providers is to combine technological intensive care for preterm infants with a sensitive and individualized approach facilitating neurobehavioral development while supporting parents in their roles as primary advocates and long-term caregivers. This exploratory study evaluated an individualized nursing intervention based on underlying assumptions of both infant and parent competence. The intervention enhanced parents' ability to appraise their infant's behavior critically and respond in a supportive manner. Study findings provide valuable information on the implications of an individualized nursing intervention both for further research and clinical practice.     

Transition to parenthood during the transition to modernity in Jordan: New parents' views on family and healthcare support systems

Aims and ObjectivesThis study aims to explore new parents' experiences of family support during their transition to parenthood.BackgroundFamily support is widely considered a crucial factor in contributing toward positive outcomes for parents during transition to parenthood. However, inter-generational and socio-cultural differences among family members in understandings and practices of childcare can be a source of tension between new parents and family members. Few studies have examined the role of family support in the context of rapid social change taking place in Middle Eastern countries. This study aims to address this gap by examining the parenting experiences of young Jordanian couples within the family context they are embedded in.Research Design and MethodsA qualitative study was conducted in Jordan involving sixty semi-structured, in-depth interviews. Twenty mothers, twenty fathers, and twenty family members identified as support providers were interviewed.ResultsThe key theme, “it's too much” emerged from interviews to describe the nature of family support experienced by new parents from marriage to pregnancy and until after the arrival of their first child. The study found varied interpretations of traditional child-care practices among older and younger generation of family members, leading to family conflict. This study also found that the lack of credible information from the health system about child-care compelled them to accept the only available information for them from their parents, often times with much resistance and reluctance. This created a situation of stress and anxiety among young parents and undermined the potential for healthy parenting experience. This study also found that not all social support during early days of parenthood led to beneficial health outcomes to mother and child.”Social visiting” by family members to hospital and home, was particularly found to interfere with new parents' pursuit toward privacy and family bonding, immediately following the birth of child.ConclusionThis study has produced a new understanding of the experience of Jordanian new parents' transition to parenthood. This study particularly sheds light on the current dilemma in which these Jordanian new parents find themselves in, which reflect a clash between traditional and modern values. Although the findings aim to contribute to the body of literature that deals with cultural influences on new parents' experiences in Jordon, the learning could be relevant to the other contexts in the Middle Eastern societies.     

A theory of the transition to parenthood of infertile couples

A theoretical synthesis of the transition to parenthood of infertile couples is presented. The theory was derived from three studies of infertility the author conducted between 1985 and 1993. The theory is grounded in the experiences of infertile couples, and locates these experiences conceptually in the comparative context of normally fertile couples' transition to parenthood and in the domains of life transitions and illness work. Infertile couples exhibited some of the same processes as their fertile counterparts, varying in the phasing and intensity of these overlapping processes; and, they exhibited processes exclusive to them. There were also intragroup differences in the infertile couples: between adopting and childbearing couples, couples conceiving biomedically and spontaneously, and between couples conceiving with their own or donor gametes. ©1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Maternal role satisfaction: a new approach to assessing parenting.

There is a need to study the maternal role beyond the child's first year of life. This investigation, using a framework of Locke's expectancy theory, describes the expectations, surprises, values, and satisfactions experienced by 102 mothers of teens. Content analysis of written narratives describing surprises encountered by these mothers is also presented. Data were collected by questionnaire. Findings offer support for Locke's theory in two ways: (1) expectation for role was less important than value attainment in predicting the level of maternal role satisfaction, and (2) encountering at least one positive surprise was associated with a higher level of maternal role satisfaction. These variables are offered as a useful nursing approach to the assessment of the parenting experience. Knowledge of the satisfactions reported may be encouraging to mothers anticipating this stage of life.     

Applying research in practice: parenting the premature infant

As the survival rate for premature infants increases, studies examining the interaction of parents with their premature infants have begun to appear in the literature. This review of the research can guide nurses in a variety of settings in clinical intervention strategies with these families.     

Psychosocial adjustment during the transition to parenthood of Portuguese couples who conceived spontaneously or through assisted reproductive technologies

We examined the psychosocial adjustment of 35 Portuguese couples who conceived through Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) and 31 couples with a spontaneous conception during their transition to parenthood (pregnancy and 4 months postpartum). Couples completed self‐report questionnaires regarding their perceptions of pregnancy and parenthood, psychological distress, quality of life, marital relationship, and parenting stress. Compared with parents who conceived spontaneously, parents who conceived through ART perceived pregnancy as being more risky and demanding, reported a decrease in their psychological quality of life, and ART fathers only perceived themselves as being more competent than fathers who conceived spontaneously. Healthcare professionals should be aware of need of couples in their efforts to adapt to the individual and relational challenges associated with the transition to parenthood. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 33:207–220, 2010     

Testing a parenting programme evaluation tool as a pre- and post-course measure of parenting self-efficacy

AIM: This paper is a report of a study to measure changes in parenting self-efficacy after attending a parenting programme and to determine if these changes are maintained over time. BACKGROUND: A need for the evaluation of parenting programmes from the perspective of parents who take part has led to the development of a Tool to Measure Parenting Self-Efficacy. Self-efficacy, a self-perception of one's ability to perform competently and effectively in a particular task or setting, provided the framework for the development of the tool. METHODS: A total of 356 parents took part in the study over 53 parenting programmes in the UK in 2004-2005. Parents completed the evaluation tool as a pre- and post-course measure of parenting self-efficacy and at 4-month follow-up. FINDINGS: Parenting self-efficacy increased at the end of the parenting programmes for all scales. The increase from baseline to end of course was maintained for all scales at four month follow-up and there was a further increase for two scales. Increases in self-efficacy were found across a range of parenting programmes. CONCLUSION: The tool can be used to assess the impact of different types of parenting programmes on parenting self-efficacy and in research into this topic.