Short-term change in couples’ conflict following a transition to parenthood intervention.

Abstract

Conflict among couples was examined following a transition to parenthood intervention to determine both short-term efficacy of the program and elucidate the process of change postintervention. A randomized clinical trial design was used to examine conflict in couples who participated in a transition to parenthood psycho-educational workshop compared with controls. The beginnings of improved communication in conflict were evident at 3 months postbirth through decreased husband contempt and increased husband positive affect during conflict in a sample that demonstrated more substantial improvement at 1 year postintervention. Increases in husband positive affect in the workshop group at 3 months postbirth predicted more positive and less negative wife affect during conflict at 1 year postbirth. Results suggest that some indicators of intervention efficacy were evident, postintervention change can be gradual, husbands may be more receptive to implementing change shortly after birth, and early changes can be associated with later positive outcomes. Findings have implications for preparing couples for the gradual and complex nature of change associated with intervention.

A systematic review and meta-synthesis of the impact of becoming parents on the couple relationship

“…(Mitnick et al, 2009). Whilst some TTP relationship interventions have been shown to be effective (Shapiro et al, 2015) and beneficial to parents (Linville et al, 2017), more research is required to improve TTP relationship interventions (Pinquart and Teubert, 2010).…”

Relationship Quality with Parents: Implications for Own and Partner Well‐Being in Middle‐Aged Couples

“…Proactive educational programs on this issue might be useful, especially when ties with one or both sets of parents are troubled. Earlier in the couple's development, relationship education programs focused on the transition to parenthood have demonstrated a number of positive outcomes, including lower declines in marital satisfaction (Doss, Cicila, Hsueh, Morrison, & Carhart, ) and improved couple communication during conflict (Shapiro, Gottman, & Fink, ). Likewise, programs centered on building and sustaining mutual support between spouses as roles and responsibilities shift in their relationships with aging parents may buffer the negative impact of stressors related to this transition for the couple's well‐being.…”

Parental Support of Adult Children and Middle-Aged Couples’ Marital Satisfaction

“…This study has a number of practical implications for future clinical work with middle-aged couples. Research on couple-based interventions thus far has largely focused on how the early years of parenthood affect satisfaction within the marriage (e.g., Feinberg, Jones, Roettger, Solmeyer, & Hostetler, 2014;Shapiro, Gottman, & Fink, 2015). Yet as this and other studies have shown (e.g., Davis et al, 2016;Lee et al, 2016), spouses' experiences in their parental roles remain salient to marital quality across the life course.…”

“…Relationship education programs that prepare and guide couples in handling the potential challenges of parenting an adult child may be helpful. Couple-based educational programs focused on the transition to parenthood have demonstrated numerous positive outcomes for families, including better couple communication skills (Shapiro et al, 2015) and long-term gains in children's emotional and behavioral adjustment (Feinberg et al, 2014). Similarly, programs that educate midlife couples on ways to effectively manage relationships with children as their offspring enter young adulthood may be highly beneficial for families.…”