Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-8-2016
Abstract
During the transition to parenthood, both men and women experience hormone changes that are thought to promote parental care. Yet very few studies have explicitly tested the hypothesis that prenatal hormone changes are associated with postpartum parenting behavior. In a longitudinal study of 27 first-time expectant couples, we assessed whether prenatal hormone changes predicted self and partner-reported parenting outcomes at three months postpartum. Expectant fathers showed prenatal declines in testosterone and estradiol, and larger declines in these hormones predicted larger contributions to household and infant care tasks postpartum. Women whose partners showed larger testosterone declines also reported receiving more support and more help with household tasks. Expectant mothers showed prenatal increases in testosterone and estradiol, and larger increases predicted lower partner-rated support. Together, our findings provide some of first evidence that prenatal hormone changes may indeed be functional and that behaviors associated with these changes may be detectable by co-parents.
Recommended Citation
Edelstein, R. S., Chopik, W. J., Saxbe, D. E., Wardecker, B. M., Moors, A. C., & LaBelle, O. P. (2016). Prospective and dyadic associations between expectant parents’ prenatal hormone changes and postpartum parenting outcomes. Developmental Psychobiology, 59(1), 77-90. doi: 10.1002/dev.21469
Copyright
Wiley
Included in
Family, Life Course, and Society Commons, Gender and Sexuality Commons, Other Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons, Other Psychology Commons, Personality and Social Contexts Commons, Social Psychology Commons, Social Psychology and Interaction Commons, Women's Studies Commons
Comments
This is the accepted version of the following article:
Edelstein, R. S., Chopik, W. J., Saxbe, D. E., Wardecker, B. M., Moors, A. C., & LaBelle, O. P. (2016). Prospective and dyadic associations between expectant parents’ prenatal hormone changes and postpartum parenting outcomes. Developmental Psychobiology, 59(1), 77-90.
which has been published in final form at DOI: 10.1002/dev.21469. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.