The new family: patterns of transition to parenthood

The major aim of this longitudinal study is to analyze patterns of "new families" functioning and to examine different changes that the experience of parenthood determines in mothers' self, fathers' self, couple relationship, extended family processes. The sampe of this research is composed of 50 "normal" couples expecting their first child selected with the cooperation of social and medical public services. Data wiil be collected three times: first when the expectant mother is in her seventh month of pregnancy; then when the baby is 3/4 months old and finally when the child is 12/14 months old. Data are now being processed in the first phase. For every collection, the subjects completed a self-report questionnaire (in two different versions for mother and father) composed of sociodemografic questions, Locke Marital Locus of Control Scale, Scabini's Mrital satisfaction Scale, some scale of Moos' Family Environment Scale, and some questions about perception, change and adjustment of new roles in the family and about functioning and relationship of their extended families. The data analysis wit multivariate scheme (Scabini, 1991; Fisher, 1985) will permit to attempt individual and relational hypothesis.