1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«This study aims to explore two factors that can contribute to both partners’ adaptation to the birth of a child. It seeks to examine the actor and partner effects of romantic attachment insecurities (anxiety, avoidance) and perfectionism (adaptive, maladaptive) on the relationship satisfaction and parental alliance of both parents of a new child.» (p. 584)

Questions/Hypothèses :
«First, it is expected that mothers’ and fathers’ attachment insecurities will be negatively related to their own relationship satisfaction […] and to their partner’s relationship satisfaction […]. It is also expected that attachment insecurities would be negatively related to one’s own perception of the parental alliance […], as well as to their partners’ parental alliance […].» (p. 584)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
«A sample of 80 French-Canadian couples was recruited as part of a larger cross-sectional study on couple adjustment to the birth of a child. To participate, partners had to: [b]e part of a heterosexual couple; [l]ive together; [b]e 18 years or older; and [b]e the biological parents of a child aged 6–24 months at the time of the study. […] Couples from the province of Quebec, Canada were solicited through advertising posters in public places (e.g., pharmacies, birthing centers, hospitals) and virtual invitations (e.g., university mailing lists, Facebook).» (p. 585)

Instruments :
Questionnaires

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique

3. Résumé

«[T]he results highlight the prominent role of attachment-related avoidance, which was related to lower relational satisfaction and parental alliance in both partners. […] Such characteristics, especially in the demanding context of a child’s birth, may color the perception of the quality of the relationship […]. Moreover, since the parental alliance requires constant collaboration and communication with the other parent, avoiding intimacy and self-disclosure can undermine the development of a collaborative alliance between parents. [T]he results of this study revealed that perfectionism – but only in its adaptive form—can be an asset for parenting couples in the context of the birth of a new child. It appears that adaptive perfectionistic tendencies—namely rigor, preoccupations for quality and care—would indeed be useful in the couple relationship. In the postnatal context, a fair dose of adaptive perfectionism could denote a desire to do things well. In the light of the adaptive perfectionism definition and [the] results, it is possible to believe that partners with adaptive perfectionism could have clearer, but more flexible and realistic expectations toward themselves and their partner, which would contribute to each partner’s relationship satisfaction. Indeed, a partner with adaptive perfectionism, whose initial expectations are more flexible and who is more tolerant and indulgent, could be more willing to accept that the other partner does things differently, which could benefit the relationship satisfaction.» (p. 590)