Parental distress after stressful life events
The aim of this research project is to study family responses to major life events and adversity.
One of our first studies was the You & Your Baby Study of the Baby and Child Research Center of Radboud University and the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, in which 138 women and 96 partners were followed from the first months postpartum until the 10th week after birth.
The transition to parenthood can be challenging for parents, leading to elevated symptoms of parenting stress, depression and anxiety. In turn, distressed parents are at higher risk for providing suboptimal quality of caregiving. In this study, we examined the effectiveness of low-intensity universal psychoeducational program to prevent postpartum parenting stress, and to enhance parental well-being and caregiving quality. Between 26 and 34 weeks of pregnancy, 138 pregnant women and 96 partners were randomized to the intervention or a waitlist control group. The intervention consisted of a booklet, a video, a home visit, and a telephone call. Information was provided on (1) sensitive responsiveness, adapting to the parental role, and
attending to own needs; (2) crying patterns; (3) feeding (arrangements); and (4) sleeping (arrangements).
Coordinating researcher
Collaboration
Baby and Child Research Center Radboud University
Radboud UMC
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam