Transition into parenthood : examining the effects of self-affirmation on first-time parents

Abstract

New parenthood is a time of change and growth. Parents take on new identities as mothers and fathers, learn new responsibilities, and adapt to new family dynamics. Key psychological themes during this life stage include wavering self-esteem and identity, feelings of inadequacy or unpreparedness, elevated stress and anxiety. This study examined the effects of self-affirmation on the psychological wellbeing of new parents, from both an interventional and dispositional perspective. 68 parents with children aged three and under were recruited globally. Perceived stress, state anxiety, self-esteem and dispositional self-affirmation were measured at baseline. Participants then completed a value-reflection task as a self-affirmation intervention, and were further assessed for state anxiety and attentional bias to threats. Results revealed that higher dispositional self-affirmation was associated with better psychological wellbeing. Younger age in parents was also associated with higher dispositional self-affirmation. Contrastingly, self-affirmation as an intervention did not significantly lower participants’ anxiety, although marginally significant findings suggest that new mothers experienced greater decreases in anxiety post-intervention as compared to fathers. These findings provide limited support for self-affirmation as a positive psychological system, that may serve as a mental health correlate and potential intervention among the new parent community.