The Process of Becoming a Parent Team: A Qualitative Research on Couples with a Preschooler

Abstract

This study used semi-structured interviews with 21 couples with a preschool child to ascertain the process of interaction by which couples share childcare and housework as a team. The data were examined using a modified grounded theory method. Initially, couples try to maintain a balance between them while having a family view in the early stages of child rearing. However, if something does not go as expected, couples might fall into a vicious circle of each wanting the other to understand. Eventually, couples overcome conflicts and gradually become a parent team. The couples' interaction has a positive side, including making efforts to maintain a balance between them and overcome conflicts, and a negative side, such as an unexpected event or wanting for the other to understand. When the positive side outweighs the negative side in the continuing conflict, couples successfully evolve into a parent team. Finally, we compared and contrasted the findings of this study with those of the previous literature.