Becoming Parents
Exploring the Bonds between Mothers, Fathers, and their Infants

This book studies the transition to parenthood and its effects on individual well-being and couple relationships.

Judith A. Feeney (Author), Lydia Hohaus (Author), Patricia Noller (Author), Richard P. Alexander (Author)

9780521772501, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 13 August 2001

262 pages, 22 b/w illus. 24 tables
23.5 x 16 x 2 cm, 0.52 kg

"An excellent book for readers at all levels." CHOICE

This book examines the transition from the perspective of adult attachment theory. It reviews previous studies of the transition to parenthood and of adult attachments, and presents the results of a comprehensive new study of parenthood. In this study, the researchers followed the experiences of approximately 100 couples who were becoming parents for the first time, together with a comparison sample of couples who were not planning to have a child at this stage. Couples were assessed on four occasions: during the second trimester of pregnancy, and 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months post-birth. The book addresses such key issues as the division of domestic labor, the changing nature of couples' marital relationships, changes in new parents' attachment networks, postnatal depression, and factors predicting the ease of the transition.

Preface
1. The transition to parenthood
2. Attachment in childhood and beyond
3. The study
4. The couples
5. Pregnancy and plans for birth
6. Couples' experiences of birth and new parenthood
7. How does new parenthood affect couples?
8. Dealing with depression
9. Men, women, and household work
The diaries
10. Couples' changing attachment relationships
11. Six months into parenting
12. New parenthood in perspective.

Subject Areas: Psychological theory & schools of thought [JMA]