Partner Support as a Protection Against Distress During the Transition to Parenthood

Abstract

The majority of previous studies focused on mothers’ distress and considered partner support from the father to the mother. The current research studies the level and the course of distress and partner support in new mothers and fathers during the transition to parenthood and tests the protective role of partner support against distress. Data were collected in a two-wave longitudinal design from 53 heterosexual couples. Mothers and fathers completed questionnaires at two measurement occasions, that is, in the third trimester of pregnancy and 3 months after childbirth. The results provided arguments in favor of a dyadic perspective on distress during the transition to parenthood. No difference was displayed between mothers and fathers before and after childbirth. The level of distress decreased in mothers and also in fathers but only for those whose partner’s distress also decreased. The importance of partner support against postpartum distress was highlighted for mothers and fathers.