Interaction between parents, their mental health and attitude towards the child in the context of the strengths and weaknesses of families with reproductive health problems

In the article the characteristics of family relationships, mental health and parent-child relations in families with induced pregnancy are discussed. The data obtained at two assessment waves of the longitudinal study (pregnancy and the child's age of 9 months) are analyzed and described. The sample consisted of 2 groups of respondents: 90 couples with pregnancy after IVF, and 160 couples with natural pregnancy. The quality of marital relations did not differ between the groups; however a tendency for an increase in the tension in the relationships between the spouses of both groups was revealed. During the pregnancy, the severity of stress and negative emotional states did not differ significantly between the groups. After the childbirth, mothers from the control group showed a higher level of depressive mood than mothers of the IVF group. At both assessment waves, parents in families with induced pregnancy demonstrated a higher level of attachment to the child and care for him. At the same time, the mothers of both groups demonstrated more strict and emotional parenting than the fathers. Spouses of families with induced pregnancy were psycho-emotionally more isolated from each other, compared with families of the control group, which was most pronounced during the pregnancy.