Stressors, coping strategies and marital adjustment of parents of fullterm and preterm infants in the adjustment to parenthood: a comparative study

Abstract

The need to compare parenthood adjustment experiences for mothers and fathers of full term and preterm infants was identified. Stressors, coping strategies, and marital adjustment were variables examined. It was hypothesized that parents of preterm infants, despite gender category, would indicate experiencing greater stress and would use more emotion-focused coping strategies than parents of full term infants. Parents of full term infants were hypothesized to use more problem-focused coping strategies than parents of preterm infants. Reports of marital adjustment were expected to be different between the parent groups by infant term category, and marital satisfaction was hypothesized to remain unchanged from the time prior to conception to 0 - 3 months postpartum. A description of the investigation that includes discussion of methodological issues and suggestions for intervention is presented.