When baby makes three, four or more: The transition to parenthood as experienced by novice and veteran mothers and fathers

This study examined the transition to parenthood as differentially experienced by novice and veteran mothers and fathers. Subjects were recruited through childbirth education orientation or refresher courses. Participation was voluntary, with 79 subjects fitting selection criteria electing to participate for the duration of the study. Reaction to the transition to parenthood was compared across gender and parenting experience over time. Pre-natal and post-natal assessments of the dependent variable, marital satisfaction, were done via the Marital Satisfaction Inventory (Snyder, 1981). No statistically significant between-group or within-group interactions were obtained through the analysis of variance; however, the gender by birth experience interaction did approach significance (p =.06). In a follow-up analysis of covariance, the conventionalization score of the Marital Satisfaction Inventory served as the covariate in an attempt to control for the impact of social desirability on response patterns. Again no statistically significant results were obtained. Nonetheless, there was some evidence which indicated that a higher degree of dissatisfaction was experienced by women across experience levels during the transition to parenthood. The results of this endeavor did not support the speculation in the literature that indicated that the transition to parenthood would be eased by previous parenting experience. The study does lend credence to the body of literature which states that the transition to parenthood is one fraught with stress and fatigue simultaneously experienced with joy and satisfaction in the parental role