Transition to Parenthood: A Reassessment.

The several "parenthood as a crisis" studies (including one significant but unpublished investigation) are critically reviewed. Possible explanations for the great discrepancy in published "crisis scores" are offered. In this context, the relationship of social class to variation in the ease with which the parenthood role is assumed is explored in some detail. Freilich's concept of the "natural triad" is shown as a potentially useful theoretical approach to understanding parenthood. It is suggested that future research the adjustment of parents to their children include (1) a distinction between objective behavioral changes required by parenthood and the subjective interpretation of these changes by the parents; (2) the use of standard, reliable, and valid instrument for measuring both the rewards and difficulties of parenthood; (3) larger and more representative samples; and (4) a continuing attempt to identify the structural variables related to degree of ease in making the transition to parenthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]