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Intra‐couple similarity in dyadic coping and partners’ adjustment to the birth of a child
Author(s) -
Alves Stephanie,
Fonseca Ana,
Canavarro Maria Cristina,
Pereira Marco
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
european journal of social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.609
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1099-0992
pISSN - 0046-2772
DOI - 10.1002/ejsp.2597
Subject(s) - psychology , developmental psychology , similarity (geometry) , social psychology , coping (psychology) , perception , psychological intervention , clinical psychology , artificial intelligence , computer science , image (mathematics) , neuroscience , psychiatry
Unlike individual perceptions of a couple's functioning, couple‐level protective factors against poor adjustment to the birth of a child have rarely been studied. This study examined similarity or reciprocal exchanges in dyadic coping ( DC ) during pregnancy (T1) and at 6 weeks postpartum (T2) and its associations with both partners’ adjustment at 6–9 months postpartum (T3). Ninety‐two Portuguese couples provided data on DC , internalizing symptoms, dyadic adjustment and parenting stress. An individual's perceived similarity at T1 positively predicted his or her own internalizing symptoms at T3. One partner's perceived similarity at T2 negatively predicted the other partner's internalizing symptoms and parenting stress at T3. These associations controlled for stereotype effects (i.e., similarity due to shared cultural norms and values). Both partners’ adjustment seems to benefit from unique similarity within the couple after childbirth, while complementarity in DC during pregnancy appears to be more beneficial in the long term. Our findings suggest important refinements to DC ‐based interventions already aimed to promote similarity in DC .