Transition to Parenthood: A Decade Replication.

The present study is a replication of a study published by Hobbs (1965) a decade ago. It was done with a random sample of couples from the same geographic location and with as nearly identical methods to the initial study as was feasible. Overall findings of the present study largely confirmed what was found in 1965: only slight amounts of difficulty in adjusting to the first child were found, and mothers reported significantly greater amounts of difficulty than did fathers. A search for variables related to the amount of difficulty with the first child indicated that the search for such predictor variables is very much a challenge for the future. Further evaluation was made of the index to measure difficulty experienced by first-time parents, and suggestions were made for revisions of such an index. It was concluded that on the basis of the present findings, as well as those of other investigators, it is more accurate to refer to beginning parenthood as a transition rather than a crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]