No abstract

The study explored the effects of different types of social support on the adjustment of first time parents in the postpartum period. At three months and nine months postpartum, questionnaires were filled out by 18 fathers and 23 mothers who attended parenting groups, and 23 mothers and 24 fathers in a comparison group. Four types of early postpartum social support (parenting group, marital instrumental, marital emotional, and network) were related to later postpartum adjustment (well‐being, marital interaction, and parental sense of competence). The results suggest that the importance of a particular type of support may be different for fathers and mothers. Parenting group support and emotional marital support were found to be related to well‐being, marital interaction, and parental competence for fathers. Emotional marital and network support were positively related to well‐being and marital interaction for mothers. Implications for the provision of support by the naturally occurring informal networks of family and friends, and by specific group support systems were suggested. The limitations of the impact of social support and its assessment were discussed.

Two longitudinal studies examined the influences of social support, networks, and support interventions on the adjustment of teenage mothers and their babies. Structured interviews were conducted prenatally and during postnatal follow‐up in both studies. Group and home‐based educational support interventions were also conducted through the baby's first year of life. Perceived support, social network resources, and support interventions were related to better postpartum adjustment for young mothers and improved health and development for their babies. Some negative effects were also suggested. The results confirm the importance of assessing specific sources of support and of distinguishing between the concepts of perceived support and social networks. Implications for future social support research and interventions are discussed.

The influence of teenage mothers' perceptions of family and partner social support on their postpartum adjustment was examined in this study. A structured interview with teenage mothers was conducted prenatally and a follow-up assessment was done when their children were 8 months of age. Both partner and family support were related to greater satisfaction with life, but each was associated in a different way with parenting and concerns about daily living. The results indicate the importance of distinguishing between specific sources of social support and different aspects of adjustment to teen parenthood.

The influence of teenage mothers' perceptions of family and partner social support on their postpartum adjustment was examined in this study. A structured interview with teenage mothers was conducted prenatally and a follow-up assessment was done when their children were 8 months of age. Both partner and family support were related to greater satisfaction with life, but each was associated in a different way with parenting and concerns about daily living. The results indicate the importance of distinguishing between specific sources of social support and different aspects of adjustment to teen parenthood.