Date of Award

Spring 2014

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Psychology

Program/Concentration

Psychology

Committee Director

James F. Paulson

Committee Member

Michelle L. Kelley

Committee Member

Xiaoxiao Hu

Abstract

Positive coparenting expectations of new parents have been related to positive coparenting experiences for both mothers and fathers during the transition to parenthood. Furthermore, positive coparenting in the family system has been linked to better and more stable relationship satisfaction for couples, which in turn has resulted in lower postpartum depression and divorce rates. Despite evidence of the positive impact of coparenting balance on the couple's mmantic life, few investigators have examined the manner in which predictors of relationship satisfaction for one parent cross over to affect the other. Furthermore, less in known regarding which family-wise factors increase fathers'ulnerability to relationship dissatisfaction. The present study examined the effects of prenatal expectations of men on the family system among 78 couples in a community sample investigated men and women who were expecting their first biological child together, and followed them from pregnancy through 6 months postpartum. Participants completed a multitude of questionnaires and participated in video recorded laboratory observations. In addition to the coded laboratory observations, participants self-reported relationship satisfaction, coparenting expectations and experiences, and depression symptoms. Findings indicated that positive expectations and experiences with direct childcare (e.g., feeding the baby, changing diapers) were not significantly associated with change relationship satisfaction for parents. However, positive expectations and experiences with family tasks (e.g., doing laundry, cooking} significantly predicted couples' improvement in relationship satisfaction over time. A significant indirect effect indicated that paternal prenatal relationship satisfaction led to greater satisfaction with family tasks balance postnatally, ultimately leading to relative improvements in relationship satisfaction for both parents by six months. The family systems and clinical implications of these findings were discussed and future directions for research were identified.

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DOI

10.25777/s9x7-cd06

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