| Abstract: | Pregnancy and the birth of a child imply personal changes that require many individual, marital, and family adaptations (Mercer et al., 1988). The outcome of this transition will have implications for the welfare of the whole family. The area of research studying this type of adaptation has witnessed much theoretical and methodological progress in the last 10 years. Contemporary researchers are trying to identify the factors associated with this adaptation process (Gable et al., 1992). A more detailed conceptual model of parental and family adaptation is now starting to take form (Terry, 1991b). The recent proliferation of research on parental adjustment to the birth of a child justifies a review of recent studies in this area. What are the limits of the investigations in this area of interest? What modifications could be suggested to strengthen its empirical basis? What are the implications of a family perspective of parental transition? To answer these questions a review of the literature in this area will be presented. The theoretical, methodological, and clinical implications of a systemic perspective on parental adjustment will then be discussed. This paper will also highlight a number of methodological limits of recent studies and suggest recommendations for future research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
