SOCIAL AND FAMILY RESOURCES DURING THE TR ANSITION TO PARENTHOOD

The impact of social and family resources on transition to parenthood was examined in two studies conducted in 1992 and 1993 in Switzerland. Study I is based on questionnaire data obtained from a sample of 29 m others and 25 fathers (25 out of them were couples). Study II is based on questionnaire data obtained from a sample of 42 mothers and 41 fat hers (40 out of them were couples). All families in the first study ha d one child between one and fifteen months of age. The majority of the families in the second study had one child as well, whereas the minor ity had more than one child with the youngest child between one and tw elve months of age. Mothers who reported lower strain related to adapt ation to parenthood were mole satisfied with the financial state of th e family; furthermore, they reported more opportunities for relaxation in everyday life, and they noted less discrepancies between former ex pectations and the actual reality of parenthood than mothers who repor ted higher strain related to adaptation. Fathers who reported lower st rain related to adaptation to parenthood reported less conflicts with the partner, felt more gratified by parenthood, and were more satisfie d with the financial state of the family than fathers who reported a r elatively higher strain of adaptation.