SOCIAL AND FAMILY RESOURCES DURING THE TRANSITION TO PARENTHOOD

The impact of social and family resources on transition to parenthood was examined in two studies conducted in 1992 and 1993 in Switzerland. Study I is based on questionnaire data obtained from a sample of 29 mothers and 25 fathers (25 out of them were couples). Study II is based on questionnaire data obtained from a sample of 42 mothers and 41 fathers (40 out of them were couples). All families in the first study had one child between one and fifteen months of age. The majority of the families in the second study had one child as well, whereas the minority had more than one child with the youngest child between one and twelve months of age. Mothers who reported lower strain related to adaptation to parenthood were mole satisfied with the financial state of the family; furthermore, they reported more opportunities for relaxation in everyday life, and they noted less discrepancies between former expectations and the actual reality of parenthood than mothers who reported higher strain related to adaptation. Fathers who reported lower strain related to adaptation to parenthood reported less conflicts with the partner, felt more gratified by parenthood, and were more satisfied with the financial state of the family than fathers who reported a relatively higher strain of adaptation.