Purpose: This research study aimed to identify and describe the importance of cultural values and beliefs in shaping the experience of the transition to parenthood for new parents, in relation to marriage, birth and family life. Method: Qualitative research interviews were conducted on a convenience sample of young men (n=15), young women (n=15) and 10 older people selected from three regions o...

BACKGROUND As pregnancy and childbirth have long been considered women's issues and male infertility has long been surrounded by taboo, limited research has focused on the experience of infertile men. The purpose of this study was to compare male motives for parenthood, male well-being and disclosure patterns concerning the method of conception among men from couples starting treatment with IUI...

Parents' postnatal mental health and subjective perceptions of their baby are likely to influence the quality of their relationship with their baby. To date, this has largely been examined in mothers; therefore, this study aimed to also explore this in both parents. Semistructured clinical interviews [The Birmingham Interview for Maternal Mental Health (BIMMH); Brockingon, Chandra et al., 2006]...

BACKGROUND The dynamics of mental health during the transition to parenthood have not been a focus of research. Our prospective longitudinal study was designed to reveal whether there are differences in mental health during the transition to parenthood between parents undergoing treatment with assisted reproduction techniques (ART) and those who conceive spontaneously. METHODS STUDY GROUP ...

BACKGROUND Different reasons influence the current low birth-rate and the postponement of the birth of the first child throughout Europe. The aim of this study was to explore how highly educated women and men in Sweden reflect on fertility and postponed parenthood. METHODS We interviewed women (n = 22) and men (n = 18) who had started their professional careers and still had no children. Data...

Parenthood is one of the most universal and highly valued experiences of American adults. However, lesbian and gay adults in the United States are much less likely than heterosexual adults to be parents. Our goal was to explore the reasons why this is the case. Using nationally representative data from the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG), we studied parenting intentions, desires, a...

Few studies were dedicated to study the role of contextual factors, such as the socioeconomic status and urban or rural residence in emotional distress of infertile couples. This study aimed to explore the impact of contextual factors on emotional distress, either directly or by affecting the importance of parenthood in one's life, which in turn affects emotional distress. In this cross-section...

BACKGROUND There is a trend to delay birth of the first child until the age at which female reproductive capacity has started to decrease. The aim of the present study was to explore how highly educated women and men reflected on future parenthood. METHODS Twenty-two women and 18 men, who had started their professional career, were subjected to individual qualitative semi-structured interview...

BACKGROUND Research has documented that fertility problems can negatively affect the life of infertile patients, by imposing an obstacle to one important life goal: the achievement of parenthood. The Fertility Problem Inventory (FPI) proposes a comprehensive approach in assessing infertility stress, by measuring the impact on social, marital and sexual life dimensions and the importance of pare...