Becoming Parents: Exploring the Bonds between Mothers, Fathers, and their Infants

by Judith A. Feeney , Lydia Hohaus , Patricia Noller , Richard P. Alexander

• ISBN13: 9780521775915
• ISBN10: 0521775914
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-08-13
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

This book examines the transition from the perspective of adult attachment theory. It reviews previous studies of the transition to parenthood and of adult attachments, and presents the results of a comprehensive new study of parenthood. In this study, the researchers followed the experiences of approximately 100 couples who were becoming parents for the first time, together with a comparison sample of couples who were not planning to have a child at this stage. Couples were assessed on four occasions: during the second trimester of pregnancy, and 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months post-birth. The book addresses such key issues as the division of domestic labor, the changing nature of couples' marital relationships, changes in new parents' attachment networks, postnatal depression, and factors predicting the ease of the transition.

Table of Contents

Preface	viii
The Transition to Parenthood	1	(21)
Why Study the Transition to Parenthood?	2	(1)
Planning for Parenthood	3	(4)
Early Studies of the Transition to Parenthood: A Time of Crisis	7	(2)
Later Studies: Improving Research Methods	9	(3)
How Does Parenthood Change Couple Relationships?	12	(6)
Why Do Some Couples Fare Better than Others?	18	(3)
Summary	21	(1)
Attachment in Childhood and Beyond	22	(26)
Defining Attachment	23	(1)
Attachment: Background to the Theory	24	(2)
Fundamentals of the Theory	26	(1)
Describing Differences in Attachment Bounds	27	(6)
Do Adults Form Attachment Bonds?	33	(2)
Understanding Adult Attachment	35	(5)
Implications of Attachment Security	40	(5)
Attachment and the Transition to Parenthood	45	(1)
Summary	46	(2)
The Study	48	(12)
Overview of the Design	49	(1)
Assessing the Impact of New Parenthood	49	(9)
Summary	58	(2)
The Couples	60	(12)
Defining Criteria for Participation	61	(1)
Locating the Couples	61	(1)
What Were the Couples Like?	62	(4)
How Similar Were the Transition and Comparison Couples?	66	(1)
Similarities and Differences Between Husbands and Wives	67	(1)
Keeping Couples in the Study	68	(3)
Summary	71	(1)
Pregnancy and Plans for Birth	72	(16)
Planning and Decision Making	74	(3)
Reactions to the News	77	(4)
Experiences of Pregnancy	81	(5)
Plans for Birth and Beyond	86	(1)
Summary	87	(1)
Couples' Experiences of Birth and New Parenthood	88	(22)
Labour and Birth	89	(2)
Experiences of Parenthood	91	(17)
Summary	108	(2)
How Does New Parenthood Affect Couples?	110	(19)
Changes Since the First Assessment	111	(4)
Differences Between Groups and Genders	115	(1)
Linking Attachment Security with Relationship Quality and Individual Adjustment	116	(2)
Stress and Coping in the Transition to Parenthood	118	(9)
Summary	127	(2)
Dealing with Depression	129	(16)
Postnatal Depression	130	(1)
Identifying Depressed Mothers	131	(1)
Depression and Reports of New Parenthood	132	(5)
What Factors Contributed to Depression?	137	(3)
The Course of Depression	140	(2)
Depression and Relationship Processes	142	(2)
Summary	144	(1)
Men, Women, and Household Work: The Diaries	145	(18)
Amount of Time Spent on Tasks	148	(5)
Sharing of Tasks and Responsibilities	153	(2)
Evaluation of Spouses' Effort	155	(4)
Domestic Work and Adjustment to New Parenthood	159	(3)
Summary	162	(1)
Couples' Changing Attachment Relationships	163	(17)
Relationships with Spouses, Friends, and Family Members	164	(5)
Attachment to Baby	169	(9)
Summary	178	(2)
Six Months into Parenting	180	(22)
Patterns of Change over Time	182	(7)
Differences Between Groups and Genders	189	(2)
Linking Attachment Security with Relationship Quality and Individual Adjustment	191	(1)
The Course of Relationship Satisfaction	192	(1)
Satisfaction with Intimacy: Stability Versus Decline	193	(2)
Survivors and Strugglers: Explaining the Different Outcomes	195	(5)
Summary	200	(2)
New Parenthood in Perspective	202	(19)
Diversity of Experience	203	(1)
Adjustment as a Process	204	(1)
Expectations	205	(1)
Attachment Security	206	(4)
Social Support	210	(2)
Joys of Becoming Parents	212	(1)
Implications of the Findings	213	(7)
Summary	220	(1)
Appendix A. Core Questionnaires Completed by Couples	221	(8)
Appendix B. Summary of Sample Characteristics	229	(2)
Appendix C. Summary of Major Statistical Analyses	231	(6)
References	237	(6)
Index	243