Cited by 156Attachment and Relationship DynamicsFamily Dynamics and RelationshipsMaternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum

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Prenatal expectations and marital satisfaction over the transition to parenthood

Lawrence, Erika, Nylen, Kimberly, Cobb, Rebecca J.·2007·Journal of Family Psychology

DOI 10.1037/0893-3200.21.2.155

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Abstract

Associations among prenatal expectations, the extent to which expectations were confirmed or disconfirmed, and trajectories of marital satisfaction over the transition to parenthood were assessed 7-11 times in a sample of newlywed couples. Piecewise growth curve analyses were conducted to examine levels of marital satisfaction at the beginning of marriage and rates of change over 2 periods: from the beginning of marriage through the 3rd trimester of pregnancy and from the 3rd trimester of pregnancy through 18 months postpartum. Postpartum marital decline was greater than decline from marriage through pregnancy. Spouses who were more satisfied at the beginning of marriage reported higher expectations. There was marked variability in the extent to which prenatal expectations were confirmed; some expectations were unfulfilled, others were met, and still others were surpassed. Associations between the extent to which expectations were confirmed and rates of change in marital decline differed as a function of the specific type of expectation. Implications for understanding vulnerability and resiliency in couples negotiating the transition to parenthood are discussed.

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Heavy Alcohol Use in the Couple Context: A Nationally Representative Longitudinal Study
Foulstone, A. R., Kelly, A. B., Kifle, T., & Baxter, J. (2016) · Substance Use & Misuse · doi:10.1080/10826084.2016.1178295 · Cited by 13
Impact of expectation violation on relationship satisfaction across the transition to parenthood.
Mitnick, D. M., Heyman, R. E., Slep, A. M. S., Giresi, J., & Shanley, J. E. (2021) · Journal of Family Psychology · doi:10.1037/fam0000870 · Cited by 12
Apoyo a las familias durante el proceso de transición a la matrnidad y la paternidad
García, M. V. H., & Menéndez, S. (2009) · doi:10.36576/summa.29342 · Cited by 12
Emerging Adults’ Expectations and Preferences for Gender Role Arrangements in Long-Term Heterosexual Relationships
Sells, T. G. C., & H.Ganong, L. (2016) · Sex Roles · doi:10.1007/s11199-016-0658-2 · Cited by 12
Parents-to-be with Overly Optimistic Expectations of Parenthood: Who Are They and What Should Counsellors Do?
Bouchard, G. (2009) · Canadian Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy · Cited by 12
EVLİLİK DOYUMU ÖLÇEĞİ’NİN GELİŞTİRİLMESİ: GEÇERLİK VE GÜVENİRLİK ÇALIŞMASI
Kayabol, N. B. A., Çağ, P., Akbaş, U., Sümer, Z. H., Özbay, Y., Aydın, G., Karacan-Ozdemir, N., Tatli, C. E., & Durmuş, E. E. (2023) · Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli Üniversitesi SBE Dergisi · doi:10.30783/nevsosbilen.1198940 · Cited by 11
Disconfirmed expectations of infant behaviours and postnatal depressive symptoms among parents
Muscat, T., Thorpe, K. J., & Obst, P. L. (2012) · Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology · doi:10.1080/02646838.2012.670804 · Cited by 11
“…be associated with more difficult adjustment to parenthood (Delmore-Ko, Pancer, Hunsberger, & Pratt, 2000), the presence of severe depressive symptoms following childbirth (Bielawska-Batorowicz & Kossakowska-Petrycka, 2006), and marital dissatisfaction (Hackel & Ruble, 1992; Lawrence et al., 2007).”
BackgroundInfluential
Revisión de la investigación sobre relaciones de pareja en países hispanohablantes (2000-2018)
Contreras, A. U., González, R. A. M., & García, M. T. I. (2021) · Interdisciplinaria Revista de Psicología y Ciencias Afines · doi:10.16888/interd.2021.38.3.2 · Cited by 22
Marital adjustment and depressive symptoms among Chinese perinatal women: a prospective, longitudinal cross-lagged study
Yang, Y., Luo, B., Ren, J.-H., Deng, X. J., & Guo, X. (2023) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2022-070234 · Cited by 11
“However, the effects of depressive symptoms in the first trimester on marital adjustment in the third trimester and those of marital adjustment in the third trimester on depressive symptoms in the postpartum period are not significant.”
Marital status, pregnancy planning, and role overload: A mediated-moderation model of parenting satisfaction.
Lachance‐Grzela, M., & Bouchard, G. (2009) · Journal of Family Psychology · doi:10.1037/a0016378 · Cited by 10
Parents' experiences of having an excessively crying baby and implications for support services
Garratt, R., Bamber, D., Powell, C., Long, J., Brown, J., Turney, N., Chessman, J., Dyson, S., & James‐Roberts, I. S. (2019) · Journal of Health Visiting · doi:10.12968/johv.2019.7.3.132 · Cited by 9
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Interparental Processes When Coparenting Two Children
DeMartini, S. E., & Hazen, N. L. (2020) · Family Relations · doi:10.1111/fare.12470 · Cited by 9
Father Involvement and Marital Relationship during Transition to Parenthood: Differences between Dual and Single-Earner Families
Álvarez-Dardet, S. M., García, M. V. H., García, L. J., & Moreno, C. (2011) · The Spanish Journal of Psychology · doi:10.5209/rev_sjop.2011.v14.n2.12 · Cited by 10
PostTraumatic Stress Symptoms And Beliefs Regarding Parenting And Children’s Development Among Trauma-Exposed Parents
Wamser‐Nanney, R. A., & Sager, J. C. (2020) · Journal of Trauma & Dissociation · doi:10.1080/15299732.2020.1787295 · Cited by 10
“As parenting perceptions have corresponded with parental behavior (Bouchard, 2009; Harwood et al., 2007; Lawrence et al., 2007), evidence that PTSS are associated with unhelpful and inaccurate perceptions regarding parenting and children’s development may signal that these beliefs are potential…”
Background
Prenatal Version of the Coparenting Relationship Scale Among Finnish Couples Expecting Their Firstborn
Lindroos, E., Räikkönen, E., Malinen, K., & Rönkä, A. K. (2023) · Journal of Child and Family Studies · doi:10.1007/s10826-023-02659-0 · Cited by 8
Coparenting and Relationship Satisfaction in Mothers: The Moderating Role of Sociosexuality
Lamela, D., Figueiredo, B., Jongenelen, I., Morais, A., & Simpson, J. (2020) · Archives of Sexual Behavior · doi:10.1007/s10508-019-01548-2 · Cited by 8
Relationship quality from pre- to postplacement in adoptive couples.
South, S. C., Lim, E., Jarnecke, A. M., & Foli, K. J. (2018) · Journal of Family Psychology · doi:10.1037/fam0000456 · Cited by 7
A New Measure of Expected Relationship Satisfaction, Alternatives, and Investment Supports an Expectations Model of Interdependence
Baker, L. R., McNulty, J. K., Brady, A., & Montalvo, S. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108645836.015 · Cited by 7
Mothers’ Functional Limitations and Relationship Quality With Adult Children: Exploring the Moderating Roles of Race and Gender
Stepniak, C., Suitor, J. J., & Gilligan, M. (2021) · Research on Aging · doi:10.1177/01640275211044834 · Cited by 7
“…patterns of expectations and behaviors have been shown to alter the quality of ties across a variety of relational contexts (cf. Bulanda, 2011; Gilligan et al., 2013; Lawrence et al., 2007); as would be predicted by classic sociological theories of role performance (Burr, 1973; Goode, 1960).”
Background
Declines in Marital Satisfaction Among New Mothers: Broad Strokes Versus Fine Details
Clements, M. L., Martin, S. E., Cassil, A. K., & Soliman, N. N. (2011) · Journal of Marriage and the Family · doi:10.1111/j.1741-3737.2010.00783.x · Cited by 7
Just as they expected: How parents' expectations about their unborn child's characteristics provide a context for early transactions between parenting and child temperament
van den Akker, A. L., Majdandžić, M., de Vente, W., Asscher, J. J., & Bögels, S. M. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.942392 · Cited by 6
“A study that specifically investigated how expectations about the child’s temperament traits were associated with post-partum adjustment found that when mothers expected their child to have a more difficult temperament overall, they reported a decline in marital satisfaction across the transition to parenthood (Lawren…”
Rejection in romantic relationships: Does rejection sensitivity modulate emotional responses to perceptions of negative interactions?
Richter, M., Kouri, G., Meuwly, N., & Schoebi, D. (2024) · BMC Psychology · doi:10.1186/s40359-024-01864-w · Cited by 12
“On the other hand, although expectant couples continue to experience common difficulties in their daily interactions [61–64], the period of expecting a first child is associated with adjustment difficulties and increased stress [65, 66].”
Background
In it Together: Relationship Transitions and Couple Concordance in Health and Well-Being
Pauly, T., Weber, E., Hoppmann, C. A., Gerstorf, D., & Scholz, U. (2023) · Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin · doi:10.1177/01461672231180450 · Cited by 7
“However, it can be a time of relationship upheaval, accompanied by a decline in relationship satisfaction that takes 7 to 10 years to recover (Keizer & Schenk, 2012; Lawrence et al., 2007; Mitnick et al., 2009).”
Research protocol for the exploration of experiences of Aboriginal Australian mothers and healthcare professionals when using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale: a process-oriented validation study using triangulated participatory mixed methods
Chan, A. W., Skeffington, P., Reid, C. L., & Marriott, R. (2018) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022273 · Cited by 6
“baby, changes in eating and sleeping habits, thoughts of hopelessness and worthlessness, and feeling of being inadequate or incompetent to cope with the newborn baby may consolidate or even deepen.(1) Results of the 2010 Australian National Infant Feeding Survey data showed that one in five mothers of children aged 24…”
Background
Validating the Remarriage Belief Inventory as a Dyadic Measure for Stepcouples
Garneau, C. L., Adler‐Baeder, F. M., & Higginbotham, B. J. (2013) · Journal of Family Issues · doi:10.1177/0192513x13511954 · Cited by 6
Effects of Expected and Perceived Division of Childcare and Household Labor on Mother’s Relationship Satisfaction during Their Transition to Parenthood
Roy, R. N., Walker, A., Al-Jayyousi, G. F., & Dayne, N. (2016) · Psychology · doi:10.4236/psych.2016.713145 · Cited by 5
Caught on the Fringes of Life: Mothers’ Lived Experiences of Initial Breastfeeding Complications
Rydström, L., Tavallali, A. G., Sundborg, E. M., Berlin, A., & Ranheim, A. (2021) · Qualitative Health Research · doi:10.1177/10497323211002484 · Cited by 5
“Studies have shown that concomitant with this new role are step-by-step changes whereby parents learn to cope with new responsibilities and the fear of disrupting the life of the growing child (Cast, 2004; Lawrence et al., 2007).”
Background

Authors: Lawrence, E., Nylen, K., & Cobb, R. J.
Affiliations: University of Iowa (US)
Simon Fraser University (CA)
ORCID: Lawrence, Erika
Cobb, Rebecca J.
Venue: Journal of Family Psychology
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 2007
Volume: 21
Issue: 2
Pages: 155-164
ISSN: 0893-3200 (ISSN-L)
1939-1293
DOI: 10.1037/0893-3200.21.2.155
OpenAlex: W2048445499
Cited by: 156
References: 29
Citations by year: 2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 12
FWCI: 12.82
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Journal of Family Psychology (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: National Institute of Mental Health
University of Iowa
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
Social Sciences › Demography › Family Dynamics and Relationships
Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
Keywords: prenatal expectations, marital satisfaction, transition to parenthood, newlyweds, pregnancy
MeSH terms: Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Male, Marriage, Parents, Personal Satisfaction, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Trimester, Third, Set, Psychology

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Prenatal expectations and marital satisfaction over the transition to parenthood

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