Er det behov for veiledning av førstegangsforeldre som et universelt forebyggende tiltak?

Abstract

First time mothers experience great changes in the transition to motherhood. Societal changes seem to contribute to a more challenging transition. Shorter hospitalization after birth and decreasing familial network are some of these changes. An increased societal pressure for parental perfection might also be a contributing factor to parents feeling insecure about their parenting capabilities. The following study aims to give an overview of first-time parents need for guidance in the post-partum period. A web-based survey has been distributed to first-time mothers, public health nurses and child protection service employees to map opinions about an individualized universal guidance. The method suggested in the survey, in which the respondents would base their response upon, was based on the Newborn Behavioural Observation (Nugent, 1985). The “Parenting Sense of Competence Scale” (PSOC) (Johnston & Mash, 1989) was used to assess parental self-efficacy. Interviews with three first time mothers were conducted to get elaborate information on how mothers experience the transition to parenthood. Results from the surveys show a general agreement among the respondents that individual guidance for all first-time parents is wanted and would be very useful. PSOC-scores seem to influence whether or not mothers would utilize a voluntary guidance service. There is also agreement between public health nurses and child protection employees that information from the individual guidance sessions with the public health nurse and the family could contribute valuable information to the child protection services in current cases. All statistical analyses have been conducted using SPSS. Findings from the interviews give an understanding of the transition as a time of big change and insecurity, but also as a time where the mother enjoys getting to know her child and feels increasingly confident in her new role. The results are discussed in relation to theory and previous research findings. Implications for future research are suggested.