Developing Partner Awareness and Empathy in New Parents: the Great Parents’ Quiz

Modifiable partner factors associated with perinatal depression and anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Positive communication is a key target for prevention efforts as it allows partners to establish an understanding of each other's experiences and needs, and facilitates their ability to support each other and resolve conflicts (Matthey et al, 2012). Correspondingly, a number of existing interventions have targeted communication and have shown benefits (Feinberg and Kan, 2008;Matthey et al, 2008;Shapiro and Gottman, 2005). However, no studies examining communication and anxiety were identified.…”

Maternal perceptions of partner understanding, couple communication and the couple's relationship in parents of infants and pre-schoolers

“…Those agreeing completed several questionnaires (see 'Measures' below). Some mothers were then given a pamphlet to take home ('The Great Parents' Quiz': Matthey et al, 2008), and had followup telephone interviews to assess the impact of this resource. Only data collected from the questionnaires completed at recruitment are being reported in this paper.…”

“…Typically, mothers (and very occasionally fathers) attend these clinics for routine check-ups of their infants and to get a health professional's advice about day-to-day care of their infant. Sample 1 was recruited in 2007 (see Matthey et al, 2008) and Sample 2 was recruited in 2008/2009. Across the two samples, 453 women were eligible and invited to participate, with 326 participants (Sample 1: 77, Sample 2: 249) agreeing to participate and provide data (uptake rate of 72%).…”

“…Matthey, McGregor, & Ha, 2008), we were particularly interested in the impact of this resource on couples that report having an avoidant communication style or who feel that their partner does not have a good understanding of her experience as a mother. We therefore chose to investigate what proportion of community women with infants and toddlers report the presence of these variables.…”

Maternal psychological state and infant’s temperament at three months

“…Other authors (Siddiqui et al, 2000) found a better quality of early interaction between mothers with high prenatal attachment and their 3-month-old babies, while the presence of partner support and empathy has been suggested to moderate perinatal depressive symptomatology (Matthey, McGregor, & Ha, 2008). These factors could be considered in antenatal programmes focusing on developing empathy between partners and emotional involvement towards their unborn child.…”