Nieuwenboom, Jan Willem
E-Mail-Adresse
Geburtsdatum
Suchergebnisse
Fair enough? Decreased equity of dyadic coping across the transition to parenthood associated with depression of first-time parents
The transition to parenthood (TTP) is a stressful life event for most couples. Therefore, the way both partners jointly cope with stress (i.e., dyadic coping) is important for the prevention of individual adjustment problems (e.g., depression). For dyadic coping to be effective in reducing depressive symptoms, efforts of both partners should be equal. However, many couples experience a decrease of equity in task division within the domestic sphere across the TTP. The current study investigates the equity of a specific skill within the ‘relationship sphere’, because similarly to a decreased equity in household and childcare, a decreased equity of dyadic coping is likely to be associated with poorer individual adjustment. We collected longitudinal self-report data on dyadic coping and depressive symptoms from 104 mixed-gender first-time parents (n = 208 individuals) from pregnancy until 40 weeks postpartum. We created an equity score for men and women that measured their perceived difference between received and provided dyadic coping. On average, women reported providing more and receiving less dyadic coping than men. While both genders agreed on this distribution, men did perceive a higher equity of dyadic coping than women. Furthermore, the decrease of equity perceived by women across TTP was not visible in men. In line with our assumptions based on the equity theory, perceived equity of dyadic coping was associated with depressive symptoms in a curvilinear manner: Decreases in women’s perceived equity in either direction (over- or underbenefit) were associated with more depressive symptoms in women and their male partners. This association was found above and beyond the beneficial effect of dyadic coping itself. This implies that not only how well partners support each other in times of stress, but also how equal both partners’ efforts are, is important for their individual adjustment across TTP.
Pursuing a Common Goal: How School Principals and After-school Directors Perceive Professional Culture of Collaboration
Using quantitative data from school principals (SPs) and after-school program directors (ASDs) in 37 primary schools and after-school programs (ASPs) in Switzerland, this study examines the Perceived Professional Culture of Collaboration (PPCoC) as an aspect of school culture and professionalism of educational staff. The group comparisons confirm that the ASDs and SPs significantly differ on how they rate the PPCoC, even if they belong to the same school context. However, this study did not find significant group differences on the goals which the two leaders associate with the development of the ASP. Regression analyses indicate that having written guidelines focused on collaboration is the strongest predictor of a positive rating of the PPCoC for both leaders. PPCoC ratings for ASDs were additionally linked to their individual goals towards ASPs. Finally, this study points out that organizational attributes and individual goals are connected to the development of a shared attitude towards collaboration (PPCoC) as an important aspect of the quantity and quality of ASP development, as a means to define the goals and professionalize ASP practice.