The first aim of this dissertation was to examine predictors of (change in) couple satisfaction during the transition to parenthood. We found that couple satisfaction on average decreased from... Show moreThe first aim of this dissertation was to examine predictors of (change in) couple satisfaction during the transition to parenthood. We found that couple satisfaction on average decreased from pregnancy until 4 months postpartum. The decrease in couple satisfaction in first time parents was found in both mothers and fathers and in multiple countries, including the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States (Chapter 2), and also in China from 4 until 14 months postpartum (Chapter 4). The decrease was stronger for parents who had more postpartum mental health problems (Chapter 2). In Chapter 3 we examined the association between couple satisfaction, mental health problems, and parental sensitivity from pregnancy until 24 months postpartum. We found additional evidence for the interrelatedness of couple satisfaction and mental health problems. Specifically, couple satisfaction predicted later mental health problems for both mothers and fathers. We found no associations between mental health problems and parental sensitivity, and little evidence for the association between couple satisfaction and parental sensitivity (the latter only for mothers).The second aim was to examine attitudes about child maltreatment across caregivers and countries. We found that on average Chinese and Dutch mothers, fathers, and teachers did not differ in their ideas about the rank order of harmfulness of behaviors commonly labeled as child maltreatment. In addition, for both countries and for the three groups we found higher thresholds for labeling the behaviors as maltreatment and the perceived need for intervention by a professional than for the need for intervention by a non-professional. In both countries and across the three groups physical abuse was labeled as the most harmful form of child maltreatment and emotional neglect as the least harmful form. However, Chinese participants had higher thresholds than Dutch participants with regard to the need for interventionand labeling the behaviors as maltreatment. Show less
The overall goal of the current dissertation is to uncover predictors and outcomes of positive parenting in ethnic minority families. Chapter 2 provides an overview of commonly used observational... Show moreThe overall goal of the current dissertation is to uncover predictors and outcomes of positive parenting in ethnic minority families. Chapter 2 provides an overview of commonly used observational instruments to measure sensitivity, showing the versatility and scientific importance of the construct. The results presented in Chapter 3 suggest that mothers of different cultural backgrounds and socioeconomic groups have a highly similar view on maternal sensitivity. In Chapter 4, the results show that both acculturation stress and general psychological distress mediated the relation between socioeconomic status and positive parenting in Turkish minority families with young children. The results of the empirical study presented in Chapter 5 suggest that family stress processes play a role in adolescents’ behavioral outcomes, whereas family investment processes play a role in adolescents’ cognitive-behavioral outcome in Turkish minority families. Overall, the studies described in this thesis have shown that parenting beliefs and behaviors in ethnic minority families can only be understood in light of factors that are often related to minority status, such as lower socioeconomic status, higher general family stress, and acculturation stress. These factors should be taken into account in research and practice regarding parenting behaviors and child development in ethnic minority families. Show less
