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Becoming a parent for the first-time? Interested in learning more about the transition to parenthood and ways to support your romantic relationship and your mental health?

Be a part of ground-breaking research!

JOIN the Partners Now Parents Study 

 

Help contribute to research on the psychosocial, behavioral, and epigenetic influences on the transition to parenthood for first-time parents

Becoming a parent is a highly anticipated milestone for many couples, yet previous research suggests that nearly 70% of couples experience a sharp decline in romantic satisfaction after the birth of the couple’s first child (Shapiro, Gottman, & Carrere, 2000), potentially as a result of the psychological distress and strain on the couple’s relationship.

The trajectory of relationships following the birth of the first child is likely to have important implications for both the long-term health of the parents’ relationship and their children’s development (Schulz, Cowan, & Cowan, 2006).

In the very few studies that have tracked relationship satisfaction and quality over time beginning in gestation of the couple’s first child (e.g., Schulz et al., 2006), to our knowledge, no studies have used behavioral outcomes and biological markers of change (e.g., oxytocin receptor gene methylation) to longitudinally investigate mechanisms of change.

Examining how best to foster positive parent-parent relationship functioning is an important target of intervention for a number of reasons; namely, positive relationship functioning can buffer against risk for parents’ depressive symptoms (Cummings, Keller & Davies, 2005) and promote healthy child development (Cummings, 1994; Easterbrooks, & Emde, 1988; Howes & Markman, 1989). Parent romantic satisfaction has the potential to directly influence not only the parent-parent relationship quality and parent mental health but also parenting practices, the parent-child relationship, and their children’s behavior (Linville et al., 2010).

Maintaining romantic satisfaction during the transition to parenthood may also buffer against the development of postpartum depressive symptoms (Schulz et al., 2006), buffer against risk for their children developing maladaptive behaviors (Shaw, 1991), and buffer against declines in relationship quality, which is a known predictor for divorce (Emery, 1982; Shaw, 1991).

Couples transitioning to parenthood for the first time prepare in a number of ways. Previous research suggests preparing psychologically as a couple for the stress associated with being new parents is an important aspect of preparation.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The purpose of the study is to follow expecting parents during the transition to parenthood to better understand ways to foster sustained romantic satisfaction and reduce stress. 

WHO IS ELIGIBLE? 

  • If you are age 18 or older
  • If you are expecting your first child and have been with your romantic partner for at least one year and are currently living together
  • If you have access to internet in your home or other private space

WHAT DOES PARTICIPATION ENTAIL?

  • All participating couples can join the study and participate from the comfort of their homes. No lab activities required.
  • All participants will receive resources for preparing as a couple for the transition to parenthood at no cost to you.
  • All participating couples will fill out surveys online via Qualtrics and submit saliva samples that are conveniently picked up by the research team from your home or another place of your choosing.
  • For participants randomly assigned to the intervention, small groups of expecting couples will meet weekly over Zoom for a little over an hour to discuss topics such as communication, support, problem-solving styles and expectations about parenting.
  • Participating couples that are not assigned to the intervention will receive research-based educational materials via email.
  • To view the consent form for the intervention group, click here.
  • To view the consent form for the control group, click here.
  • To register for the study, please click here.
  • For questions about the study, please contact Shannon Savell, MA (sms4dg@virginia.edu).