Volume/Issue :

Author(s) :

Saul McLeod, PhD, Katherine Berry, ClinPsyD, PhD, Peter Taylor, ClinPsyD, PhD, Alison Wearden, CPsychol, PhD, Lucy Oakes, MSc Clinical and Health Psychology.

Abstract :

The transition to parenthood is a significant life event that presents various challenges. Adequate support for both parents is crucial, as insufficient support can lead to negative outcomes. While insecure attachment has been identified as a risk factor during this period, there is limited research on how dyadic attachment styles influence perceptions of received support. This study investigates the relationship between momentary perceptions of support matching and attachment styles among parental dyads using the experience sampling method (ESM) to reduce retrospective bias. For seven days, 40 mothers of infants aged 3-12 months completed daily self-report measures relating to desired and received support from their romantic partner. Multilevel analyses revealed that securely attached mothers perceived greater support matching compared to those with insecure attachment styles. The attachment style of the support provider (father) did not significantly affect the mother’s perceptions of support adequacy. These findings highlight the importance of attachment security in shaping support perceptions and suggest that attachment-based interventions could improve support experiences for new parents. Future research should explore the nuances of attachment pairings and their impact on support dynamics within couples. Interventions following childbirth should focus on improving maternal attachment security to enhance support matching and well-being for new parents. Keywords: attachment style, romantic attachment, postpartum, support