Transition to Parenthood Research

Abstract

Transition to parenthood is a unique experience with a profound impact on daily activities and on the well-being of both women and men. In the past, research has focussed almost exclusively on the psychological concomitants of pregnancy, birth, and the post-partum period, formulated in terms of psychoanalytic constructs and processes. During the last decade research on transition to parenthood has paid increasing attention to social patterns and social processes within a socio-historical context, but many issues have barely been explored. Among the latter, the impact of changing family roles in relation to employment of women and the influence of socio-economic factors on the processes involved in becoming a parent are especially in need of careful evaluation.