Why do some new parents feel less supported than others? Their life histories may explain it

What is it about?

Parents need social support in the early years of parenting, to not only cope with the stress and challenges of raising a child but to share in the joys of parenting with others as well. Supporting parents during this critical time remains a key priority for policy makers and health services globally. Yet, many parents report feeling unsupported during the first year following the birth of their child. There is growing evidence to suggest that parents' life histories, from well before conception, play an important role in shaping outcomes for themselves and their children; for not only physical health but social and emotional outcomes too. This article explores the links between parents' preconception life experiences and their social support up to one year after the birth of their child. Drawing on data collected over 30 years, this article identifies factors from across parents' childhoods, adolescence and young adulthoods that are linked to social support in early parenthood and explains what this could mean for perinatal interventions.

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Photo by Steven Van Loy on Unsplash

Photo by Steven Van Loy on Unsplash

Why is it important?

We found that social support in early parenthood is linked to experiences decades before parenthood, as early as childhood. This was true for mothers and fathers, as well as first-time and subsequent parents. Parents’ may be at particular risk of lower social support in early parenthood if they have a preconception history of mental health problems, lower levels of social skills, or relationship difficulties. Future perinatal interventions designed to address social support should be responsive to parents’ developmental risks and strengths, and target not only first-time mothers, but also fathers and non-birthing parents, and parents having their second or more child.

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