Intervention program on coparenting for couples during the transition to parenthood

• Grant number: 17/26295-8
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): June 01, 2018
• Effective date (End): May 22, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology - Human Development Psychology
• Principal researcher: Elizabeth Joan Barham
• Grantee: Lívia Lira de Lima Guerra
• Home Institution: Centro de Educação e Ciências Humanas (CECH). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 19/11637-6 - Expanding knowledge about the implementation and observational-evaluation tools for a coparenting research-intervention program, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

During the transition to parenthood, in the period between pregnancy and the first months of the baby's life, rates of depression, anxiety and marital conflict increase substantially, with negative results for the whole family, which points o the importance of developing preventive programs. The aim of this study, therefore, will be to prepare, apply, assess and analyse the effectiveness of a program focused on enhancing the coparenting relationship of couples in transition to parenthood. The present study will involve three studies: (a) a systematic literature review of the national and international literature on observational methods to assess coparenting, to identify the most effective strategies; (b) interviews with Brazilian couples about the problems they encounter and strategies they use to manage their coparenting roles; and (c) based on the results of the first two studies, develop, evaluate, assess and analyse a coparenting intervention program. In study 3, the method will be quasi-experimental, with an intervention group and a comparison group, with pre-test and post-test. Married couples or couples in a stable relationship will be recruited, who are expecting their first child. The following instruments will be used: the Coparental Relationship Scale, an inventory of Social Skills among Couples (IHSC), the Inventory of Parental Beliefs and Practices of Care (E-PPPC), the Beck Depression (BDI) and Anxiety Inventories (BAI), Behavioral Signals of the Baby (SICOBE). The data will be organized using a statistical program called SPSS, and after verifying the normal distribution of the scores in each variable, descriptive and inferential analyses will be used (such as MANOVA, to test intra and inter-group differences for repeated measures). (AU)