RT Journal Article
T1 Couple’s relationship during the transition to parenthood and toddler’s emotional and behavioral problems
A1 Pinto, Tiago Miguel
A1 Míguez Varela, María del Carmen
A1 Figueiredo, Bárbara
K1 Couple’s relationship
K1 Toddlers
K1 Emotional and behavioral problems
K1 Internalizing and externalizing problems
AB The literature has mainly focused on the impact of the negative aspects of the couple’s relationship on the toddler’s internalizing and externalizing problems. This study explored the impact of the positive and negative dimensions of the couple’s relationship during the transition to parenthood on toddlers’ psychological adjustment, considering the concurrent impact of the couple’s relationship at 30 months postpartum. The sample comprised 115 mothers and fathers (N = 230) recruited during the 1st trimester of pregnancy. The mothers and fathers individually completed a measure of the couple’s relationship (Relationship Questionnaire) during the first trimester of pregnancy, at 3 and 30 months postpartum, and the Child Behavior Checklist 1.5–5 at 30 months postpartum. Multiple linear regressions, cluster analyses, and univariate and multivariate analyses of variance were conducted. The positive dimension at the 1st trimester of pregnancy and the negative dimension of the couple’s relationship at 3 months postpartum were the strongest predictors of the toddler’s internalizing problems, while the negative dimension at 3 months postpartum and the positive dimension of the couple’s relationship at 30 months postpartum were the strongest predictors of the toddler’s externalizing problems. Two patterns of the couple’s relationship (adjusted vs. non-adjusted) during the transition to parenthood were identified. Higher levels of internalizing and externalizing problems were found in toddlers from couples with a non-adjusted couple’s relationship. Findings suggested the impact of both positive and negative dimensions of the couple’s relationship during the transition to parenthood on the toddler’s emotional and behavioral problems. Promoting the couple’s relationship adjustment during the transition to parenthood can help to prevent toddlers’ emotional and behavioral problems.
PB MDPI
YR 2023
FD 2023
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10347/30545
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10347/30545
LA eng
NO Pinto, T.M.; Míguez, M.C.; Figueiredo, B. Couple’s relationship during the transition to parenthood and toddler’s emotional and behavioral problems. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20, 882
NO This study was conducted at the Psychology Research Centre (PSI/01662), School of Psychology, University of Minho, and supported by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through the Portuguese State Budget (UIDB/PSI/01662/2020). This study was funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology—FCT (Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education), under the grant UIDB/05380/2020
DS Minerva
RD 28 abr 2026