Life satisfaction and meaning in life following the transition to parenthood: The contribution of personal and personality variables, social support and perception of parenting stress.

The family institution in Israel has been through many changes over the past few years such as spouse’s desire for independence, the need for individualism and the aspiration for self-realization and personal fulfillment. Nevertheless, the Israeli society continues to define parenthood and child birth as one of its main values (Remennick, 2000). The current research is based on the Positive Psychology Method and on Lazarus & Folkman’s Theory of Cognitive Appraisal (1984). It examine the contribution of parents’  individual variables and personality traits (self-control and guilt), perception of social support and stress perception of parenthood, on one’s level of life satisfaction and meaning in life during the transition of both men and women to first- time parents.

The study sample was composed of 277 first time parents (83 men and 144 women) who were tested both by a convenience and a snowball sampling. After receiving parents’ consent, participants were asked to complete quantitative questionnaires assessing the following independent variables: self-control, guilt, perceptions of stress in parenthood, perception of social support, demographic and economic variables, as well as dependent variables: life satisfaction and meaning in life (perception of meaning and search for meaning). Questionnaires were anonymous and were completed either in an online or printed version.

The results indicate a difference between men and women in terms of life satisfaction and the presence of meaning in life, due to the transition to parenthood.  The higher levels of these variables were found among women as compared to men.

With regards to socio- demographic variables, it was found that levels of life satisfaction and the presence of meaning in life were higher among young parents, and among those who are considered wealthier.

Furthermore, it was also found that as the levels of religious observance among new parents were higher so did their need for search for meaning in life increased. While high self-control served as a predictive indicator for both life satisfaction and for the presence of meaning in life, a higher sense of guilt among new parents was associated to lower levels of life satisfaction, but to higher levels of search for meaning in life. Finally, low perception of stress and high social support were associated with high levels of life satisfaction and high presence of meaning in life. Moreover, although these variables were not directly related to the search for meaning in life, the interaction between them created a link so that the relationship between high stress levels and search for meaning in life became stronger as the perception of social support became greater.           

The essence of this study is in the emphasis it puts on the positive aspects of coping with stress that is associated with the transition of both men and women to first- time parenthood, and in its ability to map personal, environmental and conceptual variables that contribute to these aspects. Moreover, while most of the studies in this field focus on thoughts and feelings of women who are soon to be parents, the findings of this research may assist in planning an early stage preventive and therapeutic intervention aimed towards both men and women as prospective parents.