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The Mental Health Implications of Unmet Parenting Efficacy Expectations

Gross, Christi L.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1310849690

Abstract Details

2011, MA, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Sociology and Criminology.
Research demonstrates that parenting efficacy is linked to numerous positive outcomes for both new parents and their children. A common finding in the literature also indicates that parenting inefficacy is associated with negative mental health outcomes for new parents, particularly postpartum depressive symptomatology and anxiety. Because prenatal mood and behavior are important determinants of postpartum outcomes, this thesis examines the impact of unmet parenting efficacy expectations on the mental health statuses of new parents as measured during the prenatal and postpartum periods. Specifically, I focus on the mental health consequences for new mothers and fathers when prenatal expectations of parenting efficacy are unmet at 1-month postpartum. Consistent with the stress process model, I examine the role of parenting efficacy in the relationship between parental transition and postpartum distress. Two waves of data from the Baby Transitions in Marital Exchanges (Baby T.I.M.E.) study will be used in this thesis: time 1/Baseline (third trimester of pregnancy) and time 2 (1 month following the birth of the child). Results indicate that mothers whose parenting efficacy experiences were more negative than their prenatal expectations of parenting efficacy reported higher levels of postpartum depressive symptomatology. Fathers with parenting efficacy experiences that were more negative than expected reported higher levels of both postpartum depressive symptomatology and postpartum anxiety. In addition to the implications of these findings, directions for future research are discussed.
Kristen Marcussen, PhD (Advisor)
Richard E. Adams, PhD (Committee Member)
Kristin D. Mickelson, PhD (Committee Member)
55 p.
Sociology
parenting efficacy; parenting efficacy expectations; mental health during the transition to parenthood; postpartum distress; paternal postpartum depression; maternal postpartum depression; postpartum anxiety

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Gross, C. L. (2011). The Mental Health Implications of Unmet Parenting Efficacy Expectations [Master's thesis, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1310849690

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Gross, Christi. The Mental Health Implications of Unmet Parenting Efficacy Expectations. 2011. Kent State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1310849690.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Gross, Christi. "The Mental Health Implications of Unmet Parenting Efficacy Expectations." Master's thesis, Kent State University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1310849690

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

kent1310849690
529
© 2011, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.