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Transitioning from late pregnancy to six-month post-partum: Psychological and family functioning of mothers and fathers in Singapore
Date Issued
2020
Type
Conference Paper
Abstract
Objectives: This study investigates the trajectory of psychological and family functioning of
mothers and fathers during the transition from pregnancy to parenthood. Method: 1000 pregnant
women and their husbands will be recruited to the study. They will be assessed at 28 and 36
weeks of gestation as well as at 6 weeks, 6 months and 1 year after delivery. Validated
psychological instruments will be used to assess participants' depression and anxiety symptoms,
family cohesion and communication, and marital satisfaction. Results: This presentation
reported the preliminary findings from 210 participants (110 women and 100 men) as assessed at
36-week of pregnancy (T1), 6-week post-partum (T2), and 6-month post-partum (T3). Results
showed that compared to women, men reported greater increases in depression, anxiety, and
marital dissatisfaction during the transition to parenthood. In particular, women showed
increases in scores on depression, anxiety, and marital dissatisfaction from T1 to T2, and these
scores remained stable at T3. For men, their scores on depression, anxiety, and marital
dissatisfaction continued to increase throughout the three assessment time points. Both men and
women reported a similar pattern of family communication and cohesion, which increased
slightly from T1 to T2, followed by a significant drop at T3. Compared to T1 assessment, both
men and women reported fewer family communication and lower family cohesion at T3.
Regression analyses showed that younger age, not being employed, increases in family
communication were the best predictors for women's marital satisfaction at T3. For men,
increases in family communication and cohesion best predicted their marital satisfaction at T3.
For both women and men, their anxiety and depression symptoms did not significantly predict
their marital satisfaction at T3. Conclusions: The preliminary findings suggest that the transition
from pregnancy to parenthood may have a greater impact on the participants’ family functioning
as compared to their psychological functioning. While their post-partum psychological
functioning seems to return to pregnancy level, their family functioning continues to deteriorate
at 6 months after delivery. Compared to women, men showed greater increases in psychological
symptoms and marital dissatisfaction during the transition to parenthood. While the bulk of
existing research focuses on women’s psychological well-being following childbirth, attention
should also be given to the family adjustment to parenthood, especially men’s adjustment to their
fathers’ roles. This study will continue to assess participants at 12-month post-partum to
investigate the trajectory of psychological and family functioning throughout the first year of
parenthood.
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