Intergenerational support during the transition to parenthood is explored on the basis of a research and preventive-service project that included 86 fist-time parents and their parents. Many factors influence the nature and perception of support: developmental and life-stage issues for both generations, maternal and paternal family relationships, family coping styles, and continuities or discontinuities of cultures and traditions. A holistic view of intergenerational resources is recommended, emphasizing increased recognition of the paternal family.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AlbeeG. W. (1984). A competency model must replace a defect model. In JoffeJ. M.AlbeeG. W., & KellyL. D. (Eds), Readings in primary prevention of psychopathology (pp. 228–243). Hanover, NH: University Press of New England.
2.
BenedekT. (1959). Parenthood as a developmental phase. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 7, 389–417.
3.
BondL. A., & WagnerB. M. (1988). (Eds.). Families in transition: Primary prevention programs that work. Primary prevention of psychopathology, 11.Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications.
4.
BossP. G. (1980). Normative family stress: Family boundary changes across the life-span. Family Relations, 29(4), 17–22.
5.
BrazeltonT. B. (1988). Stress for families today. Infant Mental Health Journal, 9(1), 65–71.
6.
CaplanG. (1964). Principles of preventive psychiatry.New York: Basic Books.
7.
CaplanG., & KillileaM. (1976). (Eds.). Support systems and mutual help.New York: Grune and Stratton.
8.
ClearyP. D. (1988). Social support: Conceptualization and measurement. In WeissH. B., & JacobsF. H. (Eds.), Evaluating family programs (pp. 195–215). New York: Aldine de Gruyter.
9.
CohlerB., & GrunebaumH. (1981). Mothers, grand' mothers and daughters: Personality and child care in three generation families.New York: John Wiley.
10.
CowanP. A., & CowanC. P. (1988). Changes in marriage during the transition to parenthood. In MichaelsG. Y., & GoldbergW. A. (Eds.), The transition to parenthood: Current theory and research (pp. 114–154). Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press.
11.
FischerL. R. (1986). Linked lives: Adult daughters and their mothers.New York: Harper and Row.
12.
FischerL. R. (1988). The influence of kin on the transition to parenthood. In PalkovitzR., & SussmanM. (Eds.), Transition to parenthood (pp. 201–219). New York: Haworth.
13.
GarmezyN. (1985). Stress-resistant children: The search for protective factors. In StevensonJ. E. (Ed.), Recent research in developmental psychopathology (pp. 213–233). Oxford, England: Pergamon Press.
14.
KabbL., & HansenL. G. (1989). Family support groups during the transition to parenthood. In Proceedings of the 11th Annual Symposium of the Association for the Advancement of Social Work with Groups, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
15.
KarpelM. A. (Ed.). (1986). Family resources: The hidden partner in family therapy.New York: Guilford.
16.
KomhaberA. (1986). Between parents and grandparents.New York: St. Martin's Press.
17.
KomhaberA., & WoodwardK. L. (1981). Grandparents/grandchild: The vital connection.New York: Anchor Press.
18.
MattesichP., & HillR. (1987). Life cycle and family development. In SussmanM. B., & Steinme tzS. K. (Eds.), Handbook of marriage and the family (pp. 437–469). New York: Plenum.
19.
McCubbinH. I., & PattersonJ. M. (1983). The family stress process: The double ABCX model of family adjustment and adaptation. In McCubbinH. I.SussmanM. B., & PattersonJ. M. (Eds.), Social stress and the family: Advances and developments in family stress theory and research (pp. 7–37). New York: Haworth.
20.
McCubbinH. I.PattersonJ. M.ComeauJ. K.JoyC. B.CaubleA. E., & NeedleR. H. (1980). Family stress and coping: A decade review. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 42, 855–871.
21.
McGoldrickM., & CarterE. A. (1982). The family life cycle. In WalshF. (Ed.), Normal family processes (pp. 167–198). New York: Guilford.
22.
McPhatterA. R. (1991). Assessment revisited: A comprehensive approach to understanding family dynamics. Families in Society, 72, 11–22.
23.
RobertsonJ. F. (1985). Turning knowledge into policy. In BengstenN. L., & RobertsonJ. F. (Eds.), Grand-parenthood.Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications.
24.
RutterM. (1985). Resilience in the face of adversity. British Journal of Psychiatry, 147, 598–611.
25.
TinsleyB. R., & ParkeR. D. (1984). Grandparents as support and socializing agents. In LewisM. (Ed.), Beyond the dyad.New York: Plenum.
26.
TrollL. (1983). Grandparents, the family watchdogs. In BrubakerT. H. (Ed.), Family relationships in later life, (pp. 63–74). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications.