This study determined the longitudinal effects of marital communication during pregnancy on fathers' perceived gatekeeping/gate-opening behaviors from mothers during parenthood. A total of 1357 married couples were analyzed using data obtained at two-time points when the children were zero and three years old. The degree of communication during pregnancy was retrospectively rated by mothers when the child was age zero, and gatekeeping/gate-opening was retrospectively rated by fathers when the child was three. The results showed that the association between the degree of communication during pregnancy and gate-opening was significant for all combinations of employment status. In contrast, the association with gatekeeping was significant only for couples who were full-time employees. Also, the amount of variance explained by the degree of discussion during pregnancy was approximately 10%. This study suggest that it is important for couples to discuss childcare before childbirth, especially for those who plan to work full-time after childbirth.

The play behaviors of 10 Japanese boys with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and without intellectual disability or language delay and 10 children with typical development (TD) were observed across three sessions with intervals of approximately six months beginning at age 2;6 to 3;6. The study obtained three indices, namely, (a) frequency and repertoire of symbolic play, (b) frequency and repertoire of play themes, and (c) sequential organization of play. Analyses using a generalized linear mixed model with chronological age (CA) as a covariate displayed significant interactions between CA and the group for the repertoire of symbolic play and sequential organization of play. The repertoire of symbolic play and sequential organization of play were found to remain constant with the increase in the age of children with ASD, whereas these indices increased with the increase in age of children with TD. The results demonstrated that children with ASD and without intellectual disability or language delay gradually exhibited qualitative differences from children with TD in terms of symbolic play behaviors.

This study clarified the factors associated with the mental health of mothers in the Fukushima Prefecture who had young children, three years after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant disaster. Based on the sample of 346 mothers, the hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that the association between the perceived differences in the perceptions and responses to radiation problems with people around the mothers and the maternal autonomous judgments of such problems were significant. A simple slopes analysis also indicated that in the cases of both high and low autonomous judgments, the perceived differences had a significant positive effect on maternal depression. However, the slope for high autonomous judgment was smaller than that for low autonomous judgment. Additionally, concerns about their children's health had an almost significant positive effect on maternal depression. These findings indicate that maternal health concerns need to be considered a risk factor and that maternal autonomous judgment has a moderating effect on the association between the perceived differences with people around mothers and their levels of depression.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have a long-term impact on mental health, but the consequences of parental ACEs on the next generation's psychopathology have not been fully understood. This literature review examined the relationship between parental ACEs and child psychopathology as well as the impact of pregnancy and postpartum mediators and moderators on the two variables, in light of varied study findings on the intergenerational transmission of parents' abuse experiences in childhood. Sixteen studies were included from a literature search conducted through six search engines. The association between the two variables was consistent and significant for behavior and externalizing problems but inconsistent for internalizing problems. Comparison of the present study with similar studies showed no major differences. Biological and psychosocial factors during pregnancy as well as psychological problems and parenting after childbirth were the main mediators and moderators identified. Comprehensive investigations of adversities in polyvictimization and examinations of the mediating and moderating factors are warranted both during pregnancy and after childbirth.