Implications of the Loss of a Parent on Personal Growth and Perception of the Child Among New Parents in the Transition to Parenthood

Background: Two of the most significant life events are the transition to parenthood and the loss of a parent. For new parents, these events may shape the way they experience personal growth (PG) and impact their parenting.

Objectives: In a series of three studies, part of a larger longitudinal research project, we aimed to investigate the multifaceted dynamics of PG during the transition to parenthood. The studies focused on the effect of a prior stressful life event, specifically, the loss of one's parent before becoming a parent on new parents' PG and on their perception of their child in terms of warmth and invasiveness. Other variables that were considered were parental distress (PD), the bond with the new parents’ parents during childhood and adolescence and meaning in life. We also aimed to discover whether PG serves as a mediating variable in the associations between parental bond, experience of parental loss, and parents' perception of their infant.

Methods: The studies employ different sub-samples taken from a larger convenience sample recruited through social networks, who responded to electronic versions of self-report questionnaires (using Qualtrics software) in three phases. Participants in Study 1 consisted of 224 Israeli parents up to 1 year following the birth of their first child (Phase 1). The participants, ranging in age from 21 to 50 (M=29, SD=4.68), completed questionnaires assessing PG, parental bond, meaning in life, parental stress, life events, and background characteristics. Study 2 consisted of 811 new Israeli parents who completed self-report questionnaires in three phases: Phase 1, up to one year following the birth of their first child, and again six months and one year later (Phases 2 and 3). Parents’ age ranged from 19 to 50 (M= 29.50, SD= 4.35). The participants completed questionnaires assessing PG (Phases 1, 2, and 3), PD (Phases 1, 2, and 3), parental bond (Phase 1), life events (Phase 1), and background characteristics (Phase 1). The same sample was used in Study 3, where participants completed questionnaires assessing PG (Phases 1, 2, and 3), PD (Phases 1, 2, and 3), parental bond (Phase 1), life events (Phase 1), and background characteristics (Phase 1).

Results: In Study 1, hierarchical regression analysis showed that recent parental loss was a significant contributor to greater PG. In addition, higher PG was associated with younger parental age, higher presence of meaning in life, search for meaning in life, and perceived maternal care, while lower PG was associated with higher perceived paternal overprotection. In Study 2, parental loss was not related to changes in PG over time. The study revealed that changes in PD played a mediating role in the association between loss of a parent and parental bond on the one hand, and changes in PG on the other. An increase in PG levels over time was associated with being a mother, having a lower level of education and economic status, higher perceived paternal care, and higher perceived maternal overprotection during childhood and adolescence. Lastly, Study 3 explored the contribution of parental bond and parental loss to parents' perception of their infant (warmth, invasiveness), and the role of PG as a potential mediator in these relationships. The findings indicated that parental care was associated with higher perceived warmth, while parental overprotection and parental loss were associated with higher perceived invasiveness. Furthermore, the study revealed that PG acted as a mediator in the association between parental care and perceived warmth over time. Taken together, these studies show the significance of experiencing the loss of a parent before the transition to parenthood on the way the parent experiences PG and on the way their parenthood may be shaped in terms of PD and the perception of the child. Study 3 also indicates the importance of PG in the parent's perception of their child.

Conclusions and Implications: This longitudinal research provides valuable insights into the dynamics of PG during the transition to parenthood, revealing that it is influenced by various factors related to personal circumstances and early life experiences. Study 1 shows the role of recent parental loss in the experience of PG; Study 2 highlights the impact of PD and early bonding experiences on PG; and Study 3 delves into the interplay between parental bond and the experience of parental loss with PG in shaping parent-infant relationships, specifically, the way the parent perceives the child. The findings indicate the significant impact of previous stressful events on parents' development. In addition, they show that a history of parental loss is associated with higher PD, which negatively affects PG during the transition to parenthood, indicating the continuing impact of early life events on adaptability during this critical period. The results also reveal the importance of the parental bond and the loss of a parent in the parent's perception of the infant, providing further insight into the complex interplay of past life experiences and the nature of parenting after the birth of the first child. Moreover, for the first time, they show the significant contribution of PG to the parents' perception of the child, indicating that PG is both an outcome in and of itself and a factor that predicts the way parents perceive their children, thereby affecting their parenting. Specifically, the findings of these studies contribute to family psychology and child development research by refining the distinction between parental care and parental overprotection in the context of fostering a healthy family dynamic. They also expand upon attachment theory and Belsky’s conceptualization of parenting as shaped by prior life events.

On the practical level, the results suggest the need for tailored interventions and support programs for individuals who have experienced the loss of a parent before the birth of their first child. In addition, interventions for new parents should take into account the individual’s upbringing and emotional well-being, and include strategies to address PD. By broadening our understanding of PG during the transition to parenthood and the factors that are related to it, the findings may be of value for both researchers and clinicians dealing with family psychology and child development.