The transition to parenthood among young African American and Latino couples: relational predictors of risk for parental dysfunction.

Full Abstract

This study examined relationship factors associated with parental dysfunction among young African American and Latino couples. Parent dysfunction was defined in terms of parenting stress, child abuse potential, physically punitive behavior, and paternal disengagement. Fathers who reported positive relations with their own parents and partners before childbirth reported more positive adjustments to parenthood at follow-up. The quality of the prebirth partner relationship buffered the impact of a relationship breakup on a young father's adjustment to parenthood. The quality of a mother's relationship with her parents was the best predictor of her adjustment to parenthood. However, mothers who reported large declines in the quality of the partner relationship also reported high levels of parenting stress. Clinical and policy implications of findings are discussed.

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Author information

Author/s: Florsheim, Paul (P); Sumida, Emi (E); McCann, Claire (C); Winstanley, Matthew (M); Fukui, Ritsuko (R); Seefeldt, Trina (T); Moore, David (D);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Utah, 380 South 1530 East, Room 502, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA. paul.florsheim(-atsign-)psych.utah.edu

Grants: APR 000965-01 (Agency:PHS HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Journal: Journal of family psychology : JFP : journal of the Division of Family Psychology of the American Psychological Association (Division 43) (J Fam Psychol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2003-Mar; vol 17 (issue 1) : pp 65-79

Dates: Created 2003/04/01; Completed 2003/06/06; Revised 2007/11/14;

PMID: 12666464, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adaptation, Psychological
Adolescent
Adult
African Americans - psychology
Child Abuse - prevention & control; psychology
Female
Gender Identity
Hispanic Americans - psychology
Humans
Infant

Infant
Infant, Newborn
Male
Marriage - psychology
Parenting - psychology
Personality Assessment
Pregnancy
Pregnancy in Adolescence - psychology
Punishment
Social Support

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