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From couple to family: What happens when baby intrudes?
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FROM COUPLE TO FAMILY= WHATHAPPENS WHENBABY INTRUDES? M. A n n ~ and R o b e r t N . Emde. This study Investigated r e l a t i o n s h i p s between m a r i t a l and parenting r o l e s among f i r s t - t i m e parents with young Infants. In order t o examine the Impact of the c h i l d on the parents t m a r i t a l adjustment, 35 f a m i l l e s wlth f i r s t - b o r n , 6-month-old Infants were observed In a laboratory playroom. Observations were conducted of I n f a n t nlntruslvenessn and parental~'~responsiveness durlng a m a r i t a l I n t e r a c t i o n and communlcatlon task. M a r i t a l adJustment and parental perceptions of I n f a n t temperament were assessed wlth questionnaires. For mothers, but not fathers, degree of c h l l d Intrusiveness during the marital communication task was s l g n l f l c a n t l y r e l a t e d t o m a r i t a l q u a l i t y . Mothers of h i g h l y I n t r u s i v e Infants reported lower m a r i t a l adJustment. Mothers were s l g n l f i c a n t l y more responsive t o I n f a n t blds f o r at-Pentlon than were fathers, who remained oriented t o the m a r i t a l task. Extent of I n f a n t anger and f r u s t r a t i o n (temperament questionnaire) was s l g n l f l c a n t l y n e g a t i v e l y r e l a t e d t o mothers I marltal adJustment. E f f e c t s are much stronger f o r mothers than fathers, which Is s t r i k i n g since mothers were the primary careglvers. Results are discussed In terms of t h e i r I m p l i c a t i o n s f o r m a r i t a l and f e m l l y dynamics.
FROM COUPLE TO FAMILY= WHATHAPPENS WHENBABY INTRUDES? M. A n n ~ and R o b e r t N . Emde. This study Investigated r e l a t i o n s h i p s between m a r i t a l and parenting r o l e s among f i r s t - t i m e parents with young Infants. In order t o examine the Impact of the c h i l d on the parents t m a r i t a l adjustment, 35 f a m i l l e s wlth f i r s t - b o r n , 6-month-old Infants were observed In a laboratory playroom. Observations were conducted of I n f a n t nlntruslvenessn and parental~'~responsiveness durlng a m a r i t a l I n t e r a c t i o n and communlcatlon task. M a r i t a l adJustment and parental perceptions of I n f a n t temperament were assessed wlth questionnaires. For mothers, but not fathers, degree of c h l l d Intrusiveness during the marital communication task was s l g n l f l c a n t l y r e l a t e d t o m a r i t a l q u a l i t y . Mothers of h i g h l y I n t r u s i v e Infants reported lower m a r i t a l adJustment. Mothers were s l g n l f i c a n t l y more responsive t o I n f a n t blds f o r at-Pentlon than were fathers, who remained oriented t o the m a r i t a l task. Extent of I n f a n t anger and f r u s t r a t i o n (temperament questionnaire) was s l g n l f l c a n t l y n e g a t i v e l y r e l a t e d t o mothers I marltal adJustment. E f f e c t s are much stronger f o r mothers than fathers, which Is s t r i k i n g since mothers were the primary careglvers. Results are discussed In terms of t h e i r I m p l i c a t i o n s f o r m a r i t a l and f e m l l y dynamics.