TITLE:
Effects of Expected and Perceived Division of Childcare and Household Labor on Mother’s Relationship Satisfaction during Their Transition to Parenthood
AUTHORS:
Roudi Nazarinia Roy, Anthony Walker, Ghadir Al Jayyousi, Nancy Dayne
KEYWORDS:
Transition to Parenthood, Motherhood, Relationship Satisfaction, Division of Household Labor, Division of Child Care, Maternity Leave, Parental Leave
JOURNAL NAME:
Psychology,
Vol.7 No.13,
November
8,
2016
ABSTRACT: This
study evaluated the effects of expected and perceived division of childcare and
household labor on mothers’ relationship satisfaction during their transition
to parenthood. Mothers were administered a questionnaire during their third
trimester of pregnancy and received a follow-up phone interview three months
postpartum. During the second wave of data collection, all mothers in this
study were at home with their child. Findings indicated that mothers with lower
prenatal expectations about postnatal division of labor had greater
relationship satisfaction three months postpartum. Additionally, mothers also
had greater relationship satisfaction at three months postpartum when they
reported receiving more help with childcare from their partner than they had
expected during their pregnancy.