Balancing Multiple Role Responsibilities during the Transition to Parenthood

Abstract

Forty-two women were interviewed two months after the birth of their first child. The extent of their use of four coping strategies (a positive view of the situation, development of a salient role, compartmentalization, and compromising standards) was measured as it applied to the balancing of parenthood with four roles previously indicated as being conflicting (outside employment, social life, marriage, and housekeeping). It was found that the ability to manage the overlap of the multiple roles was related to better overall adjustment to parenthood, greater freedom from changes and more acceptance of changes following the birth of the child, and greater marital satisfaction and harmony. This was especially true when the strategies were applied to the roles of work and social life. Questions are raised regarding the nature of conflicting roles and the need to teach coping strategies appropriate to the type of conflict experienced.