Assessing the quality of the dyadic relationship in first-time parents: development of a new instrument

Variation in coparenting quality in relation to child age: Links to coparents' relationship satisfaction and education

Coparenting, denoting shared responsibilities in caring for a child, is a core component of parenthood for most parents. Research has linked quality in the coparenting relationship to several child outcomes as well as parent relationship satisfaction and mental health, yet whether and how these links may differ depending on child age is unclear. Here, we investigated links between coparenting quality, relationship satisfaction, parents' education, and child age, after assessing the psychometric properties of a Swedish version of the 35-item Coparenting Relationship Scale (CRS) in a sample of 206 parents in Sweden. Participants completed the full 35-item CRS, alongside the Parenting Alliance Measure (PAM) and a relationship satisfaction measure. Our findings reveal good psychometric qualities and construct validity for both the CRS and PAM used with Swedish parents. Consistent with other adaptations of the CRS, we found four composite factors for the CRS, all demonstrating high reliability and convergence with the PAM. In relation to child age, parents of older children reported poorer coparenting quality than parents of younger children. The link between relationship satisfaction and coparenting quality was stronger for highly educated parents. Education also predicted partner endorsement in parents of children in early and middle childhood, but not parents of infants. Together, our findings expand the empirical base for understanding coparenting and its links to relationship satisfaction in parents with children of different ages, and they highlight a moderating role of parental education in these links.

Digital Tools as Parental Support-A Study Protocol Describing Prospective Development and Exploration of Two Digital Tools for Parents

Background: The access to digital tools for parents is increasing, and further exploration is needed to gain knowledge about parents' experiences in using such tools, for example, when preparing for childbirth and parenthood. This study protocol describes a prospective study that will explore serious games as digital tools for parental support, and both parents' and healthcare professionals' views will be included. The objectives of the prospective study are to explore two different serious games: (1) Childbirth Journey (Swedish: Förlossningsresan), relating to pregnancy, childbirth and parenthood; and (2) Interplay (Swedish: Samspel), relating to parental couple relationships and parenthood. Methods: An intervention study will be conducted. The study will include four different sub-studies (A-D) with both qualitative and quantitative methods and a longitudinal design. Both parents (A, B and D) and healthcare professionals (C) will be included, and data will be collected through interviews (A-C) and repeated web-based questionnaires (D). Data will be analysed using phenomenography and qualitative content analysis (A-C), and descriptive and analytical analyses will be performed for comparisons and associations (D). Discussion: The value of monitoring and reporting on developments and trends in digital innovation for public health has been stipulated by the World Health Organization. The prospective study will contribute further knowledge about multidisciplinary development of digital tools as professional support for parents, as well as knowledge about parents' and healthcare professionals' experiences using digital tools concerning pregnancy, labour, parenthood and parental couple relationships. Trial Registration: This study was retrospectively registered (02/10/2020) within the ISRCTN with ID: ISRCTN18017741. http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN18017741.

Parental-couple separation during the transition to parenthood

AIM

To evaluate factors associated with parental separation during the parenthood transition.

DESIGN

Prospective, longitudinal and explorative.

METHODS

This is a quantitative longitudinal study of N784 subjects throughout the pregnancy journey with multivariate regression analysis of survey data derived from three validated measurement scales; the Sense of Coherence scale, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and the Perceived Quality of the Dyadic Relationship scale conducted 2014-2016.

RESULTS

N17 participants separated at 2 years. Parental separation was significantly greater for those women and partners with low or changing sense of coherence, perceived social support and perceived quality of the parental-couple relationship indexes. Partners with a change in sense of coherence (p: .003) and perceived quality of the parental-couple relationship (p: .020) between 1 week and 2 years were at greater risk for separation. Attending professional preparatory support with a partner for women (p: .013) and attending the "Inspirational Lecture" for partners (p: .046) were, to a lesser extent, associated with a risk of parental separation.

Effects of the "Inspirational Lecture" in Combination With "Ordinary Antenatal Parental Classes" as Professional Support for Expectant Parents: A Pilot Study as a Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Both expectant mothers and their partners describe weaknesses in ordinary parental preparatory professional support provided internationally and nationally within Sweden. Therefore, it is necessary to develop the parental preparatory professional support provided by midwives for expectant parents within Sweden. This study will evaluate the effects on expectant parents of receiving a combination of an “inspirational lecture” and “ordinary antenatal parental classes” compared with only “ordinary antenatal parental classes.”

Methods/Design: This block randomized controlled trial included an intervention as a pilot study, in which expectant parents were randomized for (1) the inspirational lecture and ordinary antenatal parental classes (intervention group [IG]) (n = 66) or (2) ordinary antenatal parental classes (control group [CG]) (n = 60). Data collection with repeated questionnaires was conducted in the first week and 6 months after birth. Statistical analyses were conducted for participant characteristics, differences between parents within IG and CG, effects of the intervention, intention to treat, and internal consistency of the included measurements.

Results: The intervention showed a tendency to be gainful for one out of four outcomes related to birth experience, and parents' perceived quality of parental couple relationship consensus and sexuality and manageability. These results were more prominent for the partners. Parents within both the intervention and control groups reported decreased social support in the first 6 months after birth.

Conclusion and Clinical Implications: Overall, the concept of the inspirational lecture in combination with ordinary antenatal parental classes as parental preparatory professional support seems to be a valuable care intervention. However, this study was a pilot study and the results should therefore be interpreted with caution. More research is needed since childbirth and transition to parenthood are complex processes in need of comprehension.

First-Time Mothers' Enjoyment of Breastfeeding Correlates with Duration of Breastfeeding, Sense of Coherence, and Parental Couple and Child Relation: A Longitudinal Swedish Cohort Study

Objectives

Many women do not reach their own breastfeeding goals regarding duration of breastfeeding. Different factors influence breastfeeding, and to learn more about breastfeeding within a multidimensional and longitudinal perspective, further research is needed. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate diverse factors correlated with first-time mothers' enjoyment of breastfeeding and breastfeeding duration, between childbirth and two years after birth.

Methods

In a prospective longitudinal cohort study, 324 newly become mothers were followed. The Spearman correlation test was used to investigate factors correlated with the degree to which mothers enjoy breastfeeding and the duration of breastfeeding. The Mann–Whitney test was conducted for comparisons of demographic characteristics between mothers who did or did not breastfeed.

Results

Among the mothers, 99.2% initiated breastfeeding after birth. Frequencies of breastfeeding were 54.8% at six months, 9.1% at one year, and 1.0% at two years. The degree to which the mother enjoyed breastfeeding was correlated positively with (1) the duration of breastfeeding, (2) more positive feelings for and relation to the child, (3) the partner's perceived relation to the child, (4) a higher sense of coherence, and (5) stronger perceived parental couple's relationship. Longer breastfeeding duration was correlated positively with (1) a higher degree of enjoyment of breastfeeding, (2) more positive relation to the child, and (3) stronger perceived parental couple's relationship. Additionally, breastfeeding during the first two hours after birth, more positive feelings for and relation to the child, and a higher degree of enjoyment of breastfeeding were more frequently reported among breastfeeding mothers, in comparison with not breastfeeding mothers.

Conclusion

Mothers' subjective experience from breastfeeding, sense of coherence, and couple relationship with partner and relationship with the child are valuable factors in regard to breastfeeding.

Psychometric evaluation of the Swedish Quality of Dyadic Relationships scale - homogeneity and construct validity

RATIONALE AND AIMS

The Quality of Dyadic Relationships is a self-assessment scale used to evaluate various aspects of relationship quality. Psychometric evaluation by the developers of the instrument has led to a nontested amended version. Further psychometric testing is thus warranted, and the aim of this study was to evaluate homogeneity, construct validity (in terms of concurrent, discriminant and known-groups validity) and any floor and ceiling effects of the Quality of Dyadic Relationships.

METHODS

Forty-seven cohabitant couples (47 women with a mean age of 30.0 years and 47 men with a mean age of 31.5 years) answered the Quality of Dyadic Relationships, the Relationship Assessment Scale (to test concurrent validity) and the Perceived Stress Scale (to test discriminant validity). Homogeneity (internal consistency) was calculated by Cronbach's alpha. Concurrent and discriminant validity were estimated as correlations between Quality of Dyadic Relationships and the other instruments. Assessment of known-groups validity was based on the variables of parental status and gender. Floor and ceiling effects were evaluated according to frequency distribution.

RESULTS

The overall homogeneity was good with acceptable Cronbach's alpha values (α > 0.70) for all subscales but dyadic sexuality. Concurrent validity and discriminant validity were found. Known-groups validity was indicated by significant differences between individuals with different parental status on the total QDR index, where the ones without children scored higher. No difference between the genders was found. No significant floor effects were found, but a significant ceiling effect was found in the subscale dyadic sensuality, with 27.7% of respondents scoring maximum.

CONCLUSION

In all, the QDR showed promising psychometric properties and may be used for screening and follow-up purposes. However, it can benefit from further development, as suggested by the ceiling effect in the subscale dyadic sensuality and the low internal consistency in the subscale dyadic sexuality.

Parents' expectations about participating in antenatal parenthood education classes

Our objective was to assess parents' expectations about participating in antenatal parenthood education classes and to determine whether their expectations might be related to gender, age, and educational level. Data from 1,117 women and 1,019 partners residing in three cities in Sweden were collected with a questionnaire in a cross-sectional study. Participants believed that antenatal education classes would help them to feel more secure as parents and to be better oriented toward childbirth. Men had more positive expectations about the childbirth than the women. The participants mostly wanted help in preparing for parenthood and in learning infant care skills, followed by help in preparing for childbirth. The participants' expectations were affected by gender, age, and educational level. The expectant parents appeared to want more focus on preparation for parenthood than on childbirth.

Partner relationships and long-term sick leave among female workers: consequences and impact on dimensions of health and return to work

Few efforts have been made to prospectively identify resources and obstacles outside work that may predict regained work ability and return to work when workers are on sick leave. This study investigates the association between partner relationships and sick leave. Our research questions were as follows: (i) What is the influence of sick leave, pain, stress and domestic strain on the quality of the dyadic partner relationship?, and (ii) What is the influence of the partner and social relationship on pain, stress, work ability, self-rated health and return to work? A cohort of female workers (n = 225) on long-term sick leave (>60 days), all in a partner relationship, at 6-month intervals completed a questionnaire based on the Quality of Dyadic Relationship (QDR) instrument, the Interview Schedule of Social Interaction (ISSI), the Work Ability Index (WAI) and the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ). Univariate and multivariate analyses of baseline and prospective data were performed. The results showed that decreased partner relationship quality was related to having major responsibility for household work despite being on sick leave, having pain and having decreased social integration. Among younger individuals on sick leave, a reduction in the quality of the partner relationship was shown already at the first (6-month) follow-up, while among middle-aged women, such a reduction was seen only at the 12-month follow-up. No dimensions of partner relationship quality at baseline were related to dimensions of return to work, either as a resource or as an obstacle. Consequently, our results show that a good relationship does not keep the woman from returning to work. Having main responsibility for household work, which implies domestic strain while on sick leave, predicts lower partner relationship quality. The practical implications are that healthcare professionals treating women on sick leave should emphasize the importance of keeping a social network as well as making sufficient adjustments at home for the relationship quality to be safeguarded. Special attention should be given to the young woman on sick leave as being on sick leave seems to influence her partner relationship considerably.

Perception of marital quality by parents with small children: a follow-up study when the firstborn is 4 years old

Swedish couples' perceptions of their marital quality when their firstborn was 6 months old and then 4 years later were studied in 2002 and 2006, respectively. The results show that almost half of the 368 responding parents were satisfied with their marital relationship both in 2002 and 2006 as assessed by a modified Dyadic Adjustment Scale. However, a study of the various dimensions showed a significant decrease in marital quality. Housework and child care were perceived as having a greater strain on the relationship between couples who had had additional children during this period. Dyadic Sexuality and Dyadic Cohesion were the most significant predictors of marital quality. Covariates of marital quality in the group with additional children were "partner relation and parenthood perceived as a strain" and "perceived social support." The results emphasize the need for supportive interventions for parents with children aged 0 to 4 years.

Sensual and sexual marital contentment in parents of small children--a follow-up study when the first child is four years old

This follow-up study explored parents' (N=452) intimate relationships when their firstborn child was 6 months old and then 4 years later. The measurement used was a modified version of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale, DAS. The present results show that most parents responding were content sensually at 6 months postpartum in 2002 and 4 years later, in 2006. More parents had changed from being sensually content in 2002 to discontent in 2006, than the contrary, however, and the sexual contentment remained low. The average sexual frequency was low both at 6 months and at 4 years for both parents with and without additional children. Experiencing tiredness as a hindrance to having sex was perceived as a greater problem among those parents without additional children. Prospective regression analyses indicated that sexuality was significantly related to both sensual and sexual contentment 4 years later. Sexuality was also one of the most significant covariates in the cross-sectional regression analysis for sensual contentment. Since sexuality plays a central role in partner well-being, it may be an important target for helping parents with small children.

Gravidez do primeiro filho: papéis sexuais, ajustamento conjugal e emocional

Esta investigação examinou as relações entre papéis sexuais, ajustamento conjugal e emocional de mulheres no período de gravidez da transição para a parentalidade. Participaram 135 mulheres recrutadas na rede pública de saúde (SUS). As gestantes estavam esperando os seus primeiros filhos e coabitavam com seus parceiros, independentemente de serem formalmente casadas. Os instrumentos utilizados foram o Bem Sex-Role Inventory (Bem, 1974), a Dyadic Adjustment Scale (Spanier, 1976) e a Escala Fatorial de Neuroticismo (Hutz & Nunes, 2001). A coleta foi individual e, em geral, os instrumentos foram preenchidos na presença do entrevistador. Um número pequeno de questionários foi respondido no domicílio dos sujeitos e, posteriormente, devolvido aos pesquisadores. Os resultados mostraram relações significativas entre Papéis Sexuais e Ajustamento Conjugal. Os dados são discutidos à luz da Teoria de Esquema de Gênero e do conhecimento produzido na linha de pesquisa da transição para a parentalidade.

Factors influencing the quality of intimate relationships six months after delivery--first-time parents' own views and coping strategies

The aim of this study was to describe and analyze first-time parents' experiences of factors that affect the quality of their intimate relationship and the way they cope with their situation six months after delivery. The method used was inductive qualitative content analysis of two open questions in a larger questionnaire. The data is based on 535 respondents' statements. The factors affecting the quality of the intimate relationship were available or missing and could be classified into four categories. 1. 'Coping by adjustment to parental role', e.g., mutual support as new parents, 2. 'The couple's 'intimacy', i.e., togetherness and love, 3. 'Coping by communication', i.e., verbal and non-verbal mutual confirmation, and 4. 'Coping with external conditions', e.g., by seeking social support. The results are described in a model, which could constitute a basis for the promotion of health in family health care, with the aim, if possible, of preventing unnecessary separations/divorces after couples become parents.