The effects of an educational program on supporting good marital relationships during the transition to parenthood

Abstract

【AIM】We examined the effects of an educational program on new parents’ marital relationships across their transition to parenthood. The program was developed based on previous research and adapted to the Japanese cultural context ; it included explanatory information, rehearsals, and discussions. 【METHODS】 In this quasi-experimental study, a program was undertaken with couples after 34 weeks of pregnancy. Participants completed the Marital Dyadic Adjustment Scale (MDAS), the Japanese version of the Close Relationship Scale (love, conflict, ambivalence, and maintenance), and the Psychological Support Scale, before attending the program, at one month, and at three to four months after childbirth. 【RESULTS】 A total of 152 participants (control group, 80；intervention group, 72) were included in the study. The intervention had an effect on maintenance (β＝0.152, p＝0.022, adj-R²＝0.346) and psychological support (β＝0.172, p＝0.018, adj-R²＝0.234) at three to four months after childbirth. 【CONCLUSIONS】 The program had positive effects and supported good marital relationships at three to four months after childbirth.