Affiliation:
1. VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Abstract
Mothers’ experiences with their firstborn child may be relevant for understanding the further growth of families. Dutch women ( N = 795) reported on motherhood experiences during pregnancy and the first year. Direct effect models of mood symptoms, birth expectations, and child negative reactivity, and indirect effect models via parenting self-efficacy were tested to discriminate mothers who had, wanted, were undecided, and did not want a second child at a 2-year follow-up. Results indicated that mothers with two children had higher prenatal parenting self-efficacy and less postnatal trait anxiety compared with those who wanted a second child. There was no evidence for indirect effects of mood symptoms, birth expectations, or negative reactivity on having a second child via parenting self-efficacy. Also, mothers who did not want a second child had more unmet expectations regarding childbirth and, surprisingly, reported less child negative reactivity than other mothers. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Funder
Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research
Stichting tot Steun Nederland
Subject
Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
Cited by
6 articles.
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