Network Structure, Social Support, and Psychological Outcomes of Pregnancy

Fifty primigravid fathers and mothers responded to an investigator-developed tool that measured social network characteristics and perceived social support during the third trimester of pregnancy. At six weeks postpartum, these same parents completed the Postpartum Self-evaluation Questionnaire (PSQ) (Lederman, Weingarten, & Lederman, 1981). Relationships among network factors, perceived support, and postpartum outcomes were documented for four of the seven PSQ scales. A greater percentage of relatives in the network and more overlap with the spouse's network were important factors associated with positive postpartum outcomes for men, but not for women. Emotional and instrumental support were important variables in explaining six-week postpartum outcomes, whereas information and appraisal support were not significant variables at this time. Men scored lower than women on the PSQ scale measuring confidence in ability to cope with the tasks of parenting.