Well-Being and the Transition to Parenthood: An Identity Theory Approach

Abstract

Research has suggested that one factor that affects individual and marital well-being among new parents is role congruence. In this article the relationship between role congruence and well-being is theoretically recast using recent developments in identity theory. From an identity theory perspective, role incongruence is problematic because it reflects the degree to which individuals can verify their identities. When meanings in the social environment are inconsistent with identity meanings (such as occurs with role incongruence), identity verification processes are disrupted and individuals evaluate themselves and their relationships less positively. Therefore, new parents who are unable to verify their parent identity should be more likely to experience a decline in individual and marital well-being. Consistent with previous research, results suggest that parenthood per se may not be detrimental to individual and marital well-being. Results are consistent with the idea that the ability to verify conceptions of self-as-parent is important in understanding individual and marital well-being in the transition to parenthood.