Postpartum Role Satisfaction in Couples: Associations With Individual and Relationship Well-Being. (June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cohen, Matthew J.; Pentel, Kimberly Z.; Boeding, Sara E.; Baucom, Donald H.
• Is Part Of: Journal of family issues. Volume 40:Number 9(2019)
• Page Start: 1181
• Page End: 1200
• Publication Date: 2019-06
• Subjects: couples -- depression -- gender roles -- pregnancy; Families -- United States -- Periodicals; Family -- Periodicals; 306.8505
• DOI: 10.1177/0192513X19835866
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0192-513X

Abstract

Although the postpartum period is typically considered a joyful time for new parents, this period calls for a reprioritization of daily responsibilities and tasks which may not necessarily align with the egalitarian split many couples envision. Dissatisfaction in this new role may negatively affect individual and couple well-being. This study examined the association between role satisfaction and postpartum distress symptoms or relationship adjustment from 73 opposite-sex couples 4- to 12-week postpartum. Both women and men reported a desire that men be more involved in household, child care, and family decision-making tasks. Actor–partner interdependence models examined the within-individual and cross-partner associations between role satisfaction and individual or couple well-being. As hypothesized, women's role satisfaction positively predicted both partners' relationship adjustment. These findings shed light on women's role satisfaction as a potentially important factor underlying couple's well-being postpartum.