Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7czq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-27T22:29:15.965Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Parents’ Experiences of Early Parenthood – Preliminary Findings

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 September 2014

Rachael Sanders ,
Jennifer Lehmann  and
Fiona Gardner
Rachael Sanders*
Affiliation:
La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Bendigo, Victoria 3552, Australia
Jennifer Lehmann
Affiliation:
La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Bendigo, Victoria 3552, Australia
Fiona Gardner
Affiliation:
La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Bendigo, Victoria 3552, Australia
*
address for correspondence: Rachael Sanders, PhD Candidate, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia. E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Parents are instrumental in the healthy development of their children, and consequently future generations, and should therefore be supported in their parental role. Using a Grounded Theory framework, 24 parents of 0- to 10-year-olds were interviewed about their experiences and preparation for parenthood. Despite their overall satisfaction, many felt underprepared, unsure, alone and inadequate during their transition to parenthood. Most of them felt like they struggled unnecessarily during the first year of parenthood, commenting on changes that would help support new parents. This paper reports the preliminary findings of the study.

Keywords

parentparenting resourcesantenatal educationtransition to parenthood
Type
Articles
Information
Children Australia , Volume 39 , Issue 3 , September 2014 , pp. 185 - 194
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Archard, D. (2004). Children: Rights and childhood. London: Routledge.Google Scholar
Aries, P. (1962). Centuries of childhood. London: Cape.Google Scholar
Barth, R. P., Crea, T. M., John, K., Thoburn, J., & Quinton, D. (2005). Beyond attachment theory and therapy: Towards sensitive and evidence-based interventions with foster and adoptive families in distress. Child & Family Social Work, 10 (4), 257–268.Google Scholar
Borg Xuereb, R., Abela, A., & Spiteri, G. (2012). Early parenting – portraits from the lives of first-time parents. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 30 (5), 468–482.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bowes, J., & Grace, R. (2014). Review of early childhood parenting, education and health intervention programs for Indigenous children and families in Australia. Issues paper no. 8 produced for the Closing the Gap Clearinghouse. Retrieved from http://www.aihw.gov.au/uploadedFiles/ClosingTheGap/Content/Our_publications/2014/ctgc-ip08.pdfGoogle Scholar
Centre for Community Child Health and Telethon Institute for Child Health Research (2009). A snapshot of early childhood development in Australia – AEDI National Report 2009, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved from http://video.rch.org.au/aedi/National_Report-March_2011_Reissue_final.pdfGoogle Scholar
Charmaz, K. (2006). Constructing Grounded Theory: A practical guide through qualitative analysis. London: SAGE Publications.Google Scholar
COAG (Council of Australian Governments) (2009). Investing in the early years: National early childhood development strategy. Retrieved from http://www.deewr.gov.au/earlychildhood/policy_agenda/pages/earlychildhooddevelopmentstrategy.aspxGoogle Scholar
Cohen, R. A., & Adams, P. F. (2011). NCHS Data Brief: Use of the Internet for health information: United States, 2009. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db66.htmGoogle Scholar
Cowie, G. A. (2009). Breastfeeding and motherhood: peer support in cyberspace. Thesis, La Trobe University.Google Scholar
Cronin, C., & McCarthy, G. (2003). First-time mothers: Identifying their needs, perceptions and experiences. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 12 (2), 260–267.Google Scholar
Deater-Deckard, K. D. (2004). Parenting stress. Newhaven: Yale University Press.Google Scholar
Deave, T., Johnson, D., & Ingram, J. (2008). Transition to parenthood: the needs of parents in pregnancy and early parenthood. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 8 (1), 30–41.Google Scholar
DHS (Department of Human Services) (2006). Evaluation of Victorian Maternal and Child Health Service. Retrieved from https://www.eduweb.vic.gov.au/edulibrary/public/earlychildhood/mch/reportmchevaluation.pdfGoogle Scholar
DHS (Department of Human Services) (2007). Strategies for improving outcomes for young children: A catalogue of evidence-based interventions. Retrieved from http://www.eduweb.vic.gov.au/edulibrary/public/earlychildhood/healthwellbeing/catalogueofevidence.pdfGoogle Scholar
Elkind, D. (2007). The hurried child: Growing up too fast too soon. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press: London.Google Scholar
FaHCSIA (Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs) (2004–2011). Growing up in Australia: The longitudinal study of Australian children (LSAC). Retrieved from http://www.aifs.gov.au/growingup/index.htmlGoogle Scholar
FaHCSIA (Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs) (2012). Protecting children is everyone's business. National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children 2009–2020. Second Three-Year Action Plan 2012–2015. Retrieved from http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/08_2012/second_action_plan_0.pdfGoogle Scholar
Glaser, B., & Strauss, A. (1967). The discovery of grounded theory. Chicago: Aldine.Google Scholar
Hill, J. (2011). Endangered childhoods: how consumerism is impacting child and youth identity. Media Culture Society, 33 (3), 347–362.Google Scholar
Hoffman, D. M., (2003). Childhood ideology in the United States: a comparative cultural view. International Review of Education, 49 (1–2), 191–211.Google Scholar
Kerr, D. C., Capaldi, D. M., Pears, K. C., & Owen, L. D. (2009). A prospective three generational study of fathers’ constructive parenting: influences from family of origin, adolescent adjustment, and offspring temperament. Developmental Psychology, 45 (5), 1257–1275.Google Scholar
Khoo, K., Bolt, P., Babl, F. E., Jury, S., & Goldman, R. D. (2008). Health information seeking by parents in the Internet age. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 44 (7–8), 419–423.Google Scholar
Kirkova, D. (2013). First-time mothers are ‘lost, lonely and bewildered’ for a year after baby's birth – but don't despair! It gets DOES get better. Daily Mail (5th November). Retrieved from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2487702/First-time-mothers-lost-lonely-bewildered-year-babys-birth-dont-despair-It-gets-DOES-better.html#ixzz31dxsi4VWGoogle Scholar
Levine, R. (1998). Child psychology and anthropology: an environmental view. In Panter-Brick, C. (Ed.), Biosocial perspectives on children (pp. 102–130). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Lexmond, J., & Reeves, R. (2009). Building character: Parents are the principal architects of a fairer society. London: DEMOS.Google Scholar
Livingstone, K. (2014). How to parent? Hard Science, Light Humor: Parenting Books 2014. Publishers Weekly, 261 (10).Google Scholar
MCEECDYA (Ministerial Council for Education, Early Childhood Development and Youth Affairs). (2010a). Engaging families in the early childhood development story: A summary report presenting findings from an analysis of data on parenting initiatives in Australian states and territories. Retrieved from http://www.mceecdya.edu.au/verve/_resources/ECD_Story-Summary_report.pdfGoogle Scholar
MCEECDYA (Ministerial Council for Education, Early Childhood Development and Youth Affairs). (2010b). Engaging families in the early childhood development story: Research findings from a survey of parents of children from birth to age 8. Retrieved from http://www.mceecdya.edu.au/verve/_resources/ECD_Story-Research_findings_from_a_survey_of_parents.pdfGoogle Scholar
McKellar, L. V., Pincombe, J. I., & Henderson, A. M. (2006). Insights from Australian parents into educational experiences in the early postnatal period. Midwifery, 22, 356–364.Google Scholar
Milgrom, J., Schembri, C., Ericksen, J., Ross, J., & Gemmill, A. W. (2011). Towards parenthood: An antenatal intervention to reduce depression, anxiety and parenting difficulties. Journal of Affective Disorders, 130, 385–394.Google Scholar
Moore, T. (2008). Supporting young children and their families: Why we need to rethink services and policies. CCCH Working Paper 1. Centre for Community Child Health, Parkville, Victoria. Retrieved from http://www.rch.org.au/emplibrary/ccch/Need_for_change_working_paper.pdfGoogle Scholar
Moseley, K. L., Freed, G. L., & Goold, S. D. (2012). Which sources of child health advice do parents follow? Clinical Paediatrics, 50 (1), 50–56.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
National Health and Medical Research Council (2007). National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research. Retrieved from http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/_files_nhmrc/publications/attachments/e72.pdfGoogle Scholar
Nolan, M. (1997). Antenatal education failing to educate for parenthood. British Journal of Midwifery, 5 (1), 21–26.Google Scholar
O’Connor, T., & Scott, S. (2007). Parenting and outcomes for children. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.Google Scholar
Ong, J., Temple-Smith, M., Wong, W. C. W., McNamee, K., & Fairley, C. (2012). Contraception matters: indicators of poor usage of contraception in sexually active women attending family planning clinics in Victoria, Australia. BMC Public Health, 12, 1108–1118.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Parfitt, Y., & Ayers, S. (2012). Postnatal mental health and parenting: the importance of parental anger. Infant Mental Health Journal, 33 (4), 400–410.Google Scholar
Parfitt, Y., Pike, A., & Ayers, S. (2013). The impact of parents’ mental health on parent–baby interaction: a prospective study. Infant Behavior and Development, 36 (4), 599–608.Google Scholar
Parke, R. D., Coltrane, S., Duffy, S., Buriel, R., Dennis, J., Powers, J., French, S., & Widaman, K. F. (2004). Economic stress, parenting, and child adjustment in Mexican American and European American families. Child Development, 75 (6), 1632–1656.Google Scholar
Parr, M. (1998). A new approach to parent education. British Journal of Midwifery, 6 (3), 160–165.Google Scholar
Roy, N. R., Schumm, W. R., & Britt, S. L. (2014). Transition to parenthood. New York: Springer.Google Scholar
Sammons, P., Sylva, K., Melhuish, E., Siraj-Blatchford, I., Taggart, B., Hunt, S., & Jelicic, H. (2008). Effective pre-school and primary education 3–11 project (EPPE 3–11). Influences on children's cognitive and social development in year 6. Nottingham: DCSF Publications.Google Scholar
Sanders, M., & Kirby, J. (2012). Consumer engagement and the development, evaluation, and dissemination of evidence-based parenting programs. Behavior Therapy, 43 (2), 236–250.Google Scholar
Sanders, M. R., & Mazzucchelli, T. G. (2013). The promotion of self-regulation through parenting interventions. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 16 (1), 1–17.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sanson, A., Nicholson, J., Ungerer, J., Zubrick, S., Wilson, K., Ainley, J., . . . Wake, M. (2002) Introducing the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, LSAC Discussion Paper No. 1, Australian Institute of Family Studies, Melbourne. Retrieved from http://www.aifs.gov.au/growingup/pubs/discussion/dp1/discussionpaper1.pdfGoogle Scholar
Sidebotham, P. (2001). Culture, stress and the parent–child relationship: a qualitative study of parents’ perceptions of parenting. Child: Care, Health and Development, 27 (6), 469–485.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Spiteria, G., Borg Xuereba, R., Carrick-Senb, D., Kanerc, E., & Martinde, C. R. (2014). Preparation for parenthood: a concept analysis. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 32 (2), 148–162.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spoth, R., Goldberg, C., & Redmond, C. (1999). Engaging families in longitudinal preventive intervention research: discrete-time survival analysis of socioeconomic and social–emotional risk factors. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 67 (1), 157–163.Google Scholar
Stable, P. (2008). What is adult attachment? Journal of Clinical Social Work, 36, 21–30.Google Scholar
Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (1990). Basics of qualitative research: Grounded theory procedures and techniques. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications.Google Scholar
Thomson, S. (2011). Sample size and Grounded Theory. The Journal of Administration & Governance, 5 (1), 45–52.Google Scholar
Tomison, A. M. (1998). ‘Child protection towards 2000’ revisited: Trends in child protection and child abuse prevention. National Child Protection Clearing House, Australian Institute of Family Studies. Retrieved from http://www.aifs.gov.au/conferences/aifs6/tomison.htmlGoogle Scholar
Tuckett, A. G. (2005). Part II. Rigour in qualitative research: complexities and solutions. Nurse Researcher, 13 (1), 29–42.Google Scholar
UNICEF. (2013). Conventions on the rights of the child. Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org.au/Discover/What-we-do/Convention-on-the-Rights-of-the-Child.aspxGoogle Scholar
Weiner, A., & Rogers, C. (2008). Antenatal classes: Women can't think beyond labour. British Journal of Midwifery, 16 (2), 121–124.Google Scholar
Wise, S., da Silva, L., Webster, E., & Sanson, A. (2005). The efficacy of early childhood interventions. Research Report 14, Australian Institute of Australian Studies. Retrieved from http://www.aifs.org.au/institute/pubs/resreport14/aifsreport14.pdfGoogle Scholar
Wyness, M., Harrison, L., & Buchanan, I. (2004). Childhood, politics and ambiguity: towards and agenda for children's political inclusion. Sociology, 38 (1), 81–99.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Legislation:Children, Youth & Families Act 2005 (Vic) (Aust).Google Scholar