ABSTRACT
A family’s transition from the husband–wife dyad to a mother–father–infant triad precipitates new role definitions and introduces complex new relationships (Gutmann, 1975). Even in egalitarian marriages or marriages in which both husband and wife are employed, having a baby tends to be a force for more traditional role divisions (Bernard, 1974; Hoffman, 1978). Women especially may experience more role disruptions than anticipated (Feldman & Nash, 1984). Sleep, recreation time, sexual intimacy, time with friends, and time with spouse are all affected by the transition (Feldman & Nash, 1984; Hobbs & Cole, 1976). It seems little wonder that decreases in marital satisfaction (Spanier & Lewis, 1980) and increases in marital stress and individual stress accompany the birth of a baby (Russell, 1974; Weinberg & Richardson, 1981). New expectations about the role of the father may contribute additional stress (Bloom-Feshbach, 1981). Today’s cohort of fathers enters parenthood with 1980s demands and an upbringing that reflects values of the 1950s or 1960s. Current research emphasizes the importance of the father’s role in child development (see Biller, 1981; Hoffman, 1981; Pedersen, 1981; Radin, 1981; Sagi & Sharon, 1983 for reviews), but social and work structures sometimes push fathers out of the picture at a time when fathers and mothers are anticipating greater father participation (Levine, Pleck, & Lamb, 1983). Even psychologists’ past research strategies, which ignored fathers (Lamb, 1981), may have aggravated this problem. Finally, the infants’ qualities, such as irritability, may add additional burdens. Parents need to respond to the individuality of their infants. However, whether parents plan to react flexibly to their infant or not, the infant’s unique qualities have an impact on them (Lewis & Rosenblum, 1974).
