Transition to Parenthood Challenges

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What factor is associated with parental depression and contributes to the experience of new roles after childbirth?

Enhanced relationship satisfaction

Increased social support

Improved financial stability

Change in hormonal balance (correct)

Which of the following is NOT identified as a theme from the systemic review by Delicate et al., 2018?

Financial Childcare Support (correct)

Adjustment Phase

Focus on the Baby

Development of Co-parenting

Which element can negatively affect the relationship quality between parents during the transition to parenthood?

Increased intimacy

Sleep disruptions (correct)

Shared parenting responsibilities

Enhanced communication skills

What is a common misconception regarding the only relevant health issue for women of size?

Obesity Signup and view all the answers

How can a parent's mental health status affect their partner during the parenting process?

It influences the partner's mental health as well. Signup and view all the answers

What stressor is indicated as impacting relationships in the transition to parenthood?

Low socioeconomic status (SES) Signup and view all the answers

What is a possible outcome of attachment developing problems during the transition to parenthood?

Feeling excluded from bonding Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following represents a contextual stressor affecting new parents?

Role changes within the family Signup and view all the answers

What behavior is commonly exhibited by depressed mothers towards their infants?

Longer latencies in maternal responsivity Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant effect of increased exposure of a fetus to stress hormones?

Preterm birth Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following prenatal factors is associated with paternal perinatal mental health?

Decline in testosterone and estradiol Signup and view all the answers

Which maternal behavior is associated with depressive symptoms at six months postpartum?

Lower maternal structuring Signup and view all the answers

What is a possible consequence of paternal depression on child outcomes?

Less optimal relationships Signup and view all the answers

Which substance is linked to the risk of learning difficulties in infants?

Cocaine Signup and view all the answers

What behavioral tendency is indicated by parental mind-mindedness?

Attributing mental states to children Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the developmental risks associated with rubella exposure during pregnancy?

Mental retardation Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately reflects the definition of health provided by WHO in 1946?

Health encompasses complete physical, social, and spiritual well-being. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary outcome of autoimmunity as discussed?

Hyperactive immune response targeting normal tissues. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect does the modified labeling theory suggest individuals form during socialization concerning mental illness?

A belief about how mental illness is perceived and treated. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a common autoimmune disease mentioned?

Cardiovascular disease Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the psychosocial influence on well-being?

It includes the interaction of psychological processes and social contexts. Signup and view all the answers

What is a possible effect of structural discrimination mentioned in the content?

Impaired quality of life through multiple pathways. Signup and view all the answers

What key aspect is encompassed in the comprehensive model of health beyond physical health?

Cultural belief systems. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best reflects the concept of discrimination as influenced by status loss?

Status loss creates rationale for devaluing and rejecting individuals. Signup and view all the answers

What does DNA methylation primarily do in the context of epigenetics?

Turns genes off through chemical modification Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is NOT directly linked to cognitive performance during the peripartum period?

Genetic inheritance Signup and view all the answers

What role does mother-child dyadic synchrony play in infant development?

It mediates the relationship between maternal sensitivity and infant attachment. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes developmental plasticity?

A phenomenon where one genotype leads to various physiological responses based on environmental conditions. Signup and view all the answers

Which cognitive change is typically observed during late pregnancy?

Cognitive renormalization signaling possible improvements Signup and view all the answers

Which of these statements is true regarding maternal hormonal fluctuations?

They can influence memory and concentration levels during pregnancy. Signup and view all the answers

What does maternal sensitivity involve?

Accurately interpreting and responding to infant behavior. Signup and view all the answers

How do psychosocial factors influence cognitive performance?

They may contribute to cognitive decrements through stress and worries. Signup and view all the answers

What role do hassles play in the association between life events and health outcomes?

Hassles may mediate the association between life events and health outcomes. Signup and view all the answers

Which stage of sleep is characterized by rapid eye movement?

REM sleep Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors is NOT mentioned as influencing children's wellbeing and risk of psychopathology?

Parental genetics Signup and view all the answers

How long does each cycle of the stages of sleep typically last?

90 minutes Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used for the time from when the light is switched off to the onset of transitional sleep?

Sleep latency Signup and view all the answers

Which process does 'restore' signify in the context of managing stress encounters?

Replenishing depleted resources Signup and view all the answers

What does the acronym WASO stand for in the context of sleep measurement?

Wake after sleep onset Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements regarding parental psychopathology is true?

It can increase the risk of psychopathology in offspring. Signup and view all the answers

What does Shared Decision-Making (SDT) emphasize in patient care?

A shift from patient-centric to collaborative decision-making Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is identified as a barrier to Shared Decision-Making (SDT)?

Patients' ability and willingness to participate Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of active system consolidation in memory processes?

Replaying newly encoded information to strengthen memory traces Signup and view all the answers

What effect do sleep problems have on cognitive abilities?

They can lead to cognitive impairment and memory issues Signup and view all the answers

In the Flowchart Model of stress, what leads to the perception of stress?

Imbalance between perceived capability and actual demand Signup and view all the answers

How does humor function in the context of stress management?

It promotes positive reframing and helps alleviate stress Signup and view all the answers

What does the Therapeutic Alliance primarily encompass?

A positive relationship built on active listening, empathy, and open communication Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of the interaction between mental health problems and sleep quality?

Sleep problems can exacerbate mental health conditions and vice versa Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Introduction to Health Psychology

Health defined: World Health Organization (WHO) 1946 - state of complete physical, social, and spiritual well-being, not merely absence of illness.
Expanded definition: Health encompasses satisfaction of physical, cultural, psychosocial, economic, and spiritual needs. Psychological and social factors significantly influence well-being.
Social determinants: Social inequalities and poverty have strong links to health outcomes.
Maslow's Hierarchy (1943): Physiological, Safety, Love/Belonging, Esteem, Self-actualization. A healthy individual has fulfilled all needs.
Biological systems: Nervous (NS), Endocrine (ES), and Immune (IS) systems communicate to maintain homeostasis.
Homeostasis: Maintaining internal body environment within tolerable limits for survival.
Negative feedback loop: Counteracts changes, moving parameters toward a set point (e.g., body temperature).
Positive feedback loop: Increases change away from a set point (e.g., type 1 diabetes).
Allostasis: Maintaining/re-establishing homeostasis through adaptation (Sterling & Eyer, 1988), involving hormones and other mediators to respond to new situations.
Allostatic load: Cumulative effect of stressors and resulting health behaviours on the body (e.g., poor sleep, diet).
Nervous system: Composed of neurons and glial cells (support, nutrition, myelin, signal transmission).
Neurotransmitters: Chemical messengers (e.g., serotonin, dopamine, glutamate) enabling communication between neurons.
Neuromodulators: Affect neurotransmitter systems (synthesis, breakdown, reuptake).
Nervous system organization: Central (brain, spinal cord), Peripheral (cranial & spinal nerves, somatic & autonomic).
Autonomic nervous system (ANS): Sympathetic (fight-or-flight) and parasympathetic (conservation of energy) subsystems; regulating bodily functions.
Endocrine system: Ductless glands releasing hormones (messengers) into the bloodstream. Maintains metabolic homeostasis and regulates circadian rhythms.
Immune system: Two parts (innate and adaptive). Protects against illness.
- Innate immunity: First line of defense (skin, cough reflex).
- Adaptive immunity: More complex, involves specific cell types.

Research Methodology

Measurement timing: Cross-sectional (one point in time) or longitudinal (multiple points).
Intervention: Experiments manipulate variables, or observational studies do not.
Data types: Quantitative (numeric data) or qualitative (non-numeric). Mixed methods use both.
Causation: Cross-sectional studies only show associations, while longitudinal studies, if a control group is present, can establish causation.
Qualitative research: Offers depth & understanding, participant voices; valuable for industry settings.
Qualitative research fundamentals: Focuses on meaning, not numbers, appreciates context, considers ontological & epistemological assumptions. Includes one-on-one interviews, focus groups, diaries and qualitative surveys. Accepts subjectivity and reflexivity.

Prejudice and Inequality on Health Outcomes

Macro-social influences: Large-scale social, economic, political, and culture influencing health and life outcomes. Social determinants of health.
Social determinants of health: Shaped by economics, social policies, and politics. Include the circumstances in which people are born, grow up, live, work and age and the systems put in place to deal with illness.
Neoliberalism: Reducing state oversight, opening markets, individual autonomy often leading to increased income inequality and health inequalities.
Healthism: Health as a moral good, with implications for policies impacting health.
Micro-social influences: Individual- or local-level factors. Health psychology often targets individual behavior change.
Stigma: Mark or label associated with devalued groups leading to status loss discrimination and structural discrimination.
Mechanisms linking stigma to health: Resource availability, social isolation, psychological responses, stress.

Genetics and Heritability

Genotype vs. phenotype: Genotype is genetic makeup (e.g., eye color), phenotype observable characteristics. Genotype interacts with the environment.
Nature vs nurture: Almost equal contribution of genes and environment to individual differences in traits.
Epigenetics: Experience influences genes without changing DNA structure.
Inheritance: Genetic inheritance transmits traits via DNA, while epigenetic inheritance changes gene expression without altering DNA sequence.
Epigenetic changes: DNA methylation, histone modification.
Developmental plasticity: Genotype can lead to various states due to diverse environments.
Intergenerational transmission: Epigenetic changes in parents can affect offspring.
Teratogens: Environmental agents causing developmental deviations in the fetus (e.g., smoking, alcohol).

Parental Health

Becoming parents: Results in strains, reduced marital quality, and changes in relationship satisfaction.
Adjustment to parenthood: Qualitative studies have identified themes like (adjustment phase, development of co-parenting, and positive relationship impact, focus on the baby–parents feel unprepared to changes in the relationship, focus on communication, and intimacy).
Parental stress: Stress, particularly for mothers, leading to psychological distress.
Prenatal and postnatal parental factors: Hormones, neural networks, social support.
Paternal mental health: Affects father-child relationship, couple relationship, and parenting quality.
Interrelated parental mental health: One parent's issues can trigger problems in the other.

Promoting Parent-Child Health

Parent-child interactions: Quality interactions positively influence emotional regulation.
Maternal sensitivity: Ability to interpret infant cues appropriately and promptly.
Attachment theory: Maternal sensitivity is important for children's secure attachments.
Dyadic synchrony: Shared positive emotions are essential for infants' self-regulation.
Parental mind-mindedness: Attributing mental states to children.

Stress, Coping, and Health

Different perspectives: Stimulus-based, response-based, & interactional perspectives on stress.
Stress measures: Social Readjustment Rating Scale, Hassles and Uplifts Scale.
General adaptation syndrome: Alarm reaction, resistance, and exhaustion stages; chronic stress.
Interactional coping (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984): Evaluating stressors and available coping strategies.
Coping strategies: Active coping, planning, positive reframing, humor, avoidance.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): Stress response to extreme stressors.
Post-traumatic growth (PTG): Positive change resulting from struggle with a crisis.

Sleep

Sleep architecture: Recurring state of suspended sensory & motor activity; characterized by unconsciousness, decreased ability to respond to stimuli, and easily reversible.
Sleep measurement: Subjective questionnaires (Karolinska Sleepiness Scale, SF-36 questionnaire), actigraphy, polysomnography.
Sleep stages: Wake, N1, N2, N3 (slow-wave sleep), REM.
Sleep duration & mortality: Links between insufficient/excessive sleep and mortality.
Sleep disorders: Insomnia, hypersomnia, narcolepsy, parasomnias, sleep paralysis, related with various mental disorders.
Sleep & memory consolidation: Sleep is critical for memory processing, consolidation, and modulation.
Sleep & immunity: Bidirectional relationship; sleep enhances immune function, illness increases sleepiness.

Psychotherapy and Sleep

Reconsolidation: Psychotherapy can modify existing memories by moving them from long-term memory to short-term (hippocampus) and back again for modification.
Brain plaque and Alzheimer's: Beta-amyloid accumulation linked to cell death potentially related to decreasing sleep efficiency.
Immune system and cognitive functions: Sleep supports immune function, inflammation drives sleep.

Addictive Behaviors

Addiction criteria: Diagnostic criteria for addiction (tolerance, withdrawal, craving).
Addiction theories: Opponent-process theory (tolerance and withdrawal), Incentive-sensitization (increased attraction to substances).
Neurophysiology of addiction: Reward and memory-related networks, Mesocorticolimbic pathway.
Addiction stages: Binge/intoxication, withdrawal/negative effects, preoccupation/anticipation.

Information, Communication, and Patient-Centered Approach

Patient-centered approach: Emphasizing empathy, shared decision-making between doctor and patient to improve compliance.
Therapeutic alliance: Positive doctor-patient relationships improve outcomes.
E-health and m-health: Digital technologies for health promotion and enabling patients to be more involved in decision making.
Message framing: How messages are presented (gain vs. loss-framed) influences behavior change.
Health literacy: Ability to access, understand, appraise, and use health information; three levels (functional, interactive, critical).

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

This quiz explores the various factors associated with parental depression and the challenges new parents face during the transition to parenthood. It addresses themes from recent systemic reviews and examines the impact of mental health on relationships and infant development. Test your knowledge on critical issues affecting new families.