Self and possible selves during the transition to fatherhood

In this short-term longitudinal study, the social psychological concept of "possible selves" was integrated with constructs of adult development to ex amine differences in aspects of self and parenting among fathers-to-be and fathers of infants. Men's actual and possible conceptions of self were meas ured during their wives' last trimester of pregnancy and again when their i nfants were about 1 year old. Data are reported on 56 first-time fathers wh o completed pre- and postnatal assessments; main analyses focused on a subs et of 32 men who completed a postnatal measure of the self. Men's ages rang ed from 20 to 47 years (M = 30.61, SD = 6.57); most were White (83.5%) and middle class. Data were collected through interviews and questionnaires. Re sults indicate that how men view themselves before and after the birth of t heir Ist child is relevant for understanding their motivation for role chan ge, their own psychological well-being, and their involvement with their in fant.