Becoming mother, becoming father: Methodological and clinical aspects of a longitudinal project

A great number of studies on child development begins during pregnancy (Mayseless, 2006; Mayes, 2007; Von Klitzing, 1999, 2008). Our research explores parents' mental representations and problems connected to parenthood, to plan specific clinical interventions for parents and babies. This longitudinal study is part of a wider one, based on several different sessions, starting from the seventh month of pregnancy, until the baby is eighteen months. Thus far, more than 160 subjects (80 couples) were involved. Here we refer to a subsample of 80 parents, 40 mothers and 40 fathers, during their first parental experience. The instruments we used during pregnancy are reported as follows: - IRMAG/IRPAG (Interviews of Maternal and Paternal Representations During Pregnancy; Ammaniti, Candelori et al., vers. Ch), to explore mental representations of parents; - AAI (Adult Attachment Interview, George, Kaplan, Main, 1985), in order to assess the parental state of mind concerning attachment; - Socioanamnestic and Life-events Questionnaire, to evaluate cultural and family factors as well as relevant events in the parents' life; - Observation protocol, to describe the subject, the interview's setting, and the interviewer's personal impression about non-verbal aspects of the communication. On the other hand, these instruments were used after birth: - IEP (Interview about the experience of childbirth, Candelori et al., 2005) with the purpose of exploring the conditions of delivery and the emotional effects of birth; - IRMAN/IRPAN (Interviews of Maternal and Paternal Representations After the Birth; Ammaniti, Candelori et al., vers. Ch), to study possible changes in mental representations after first contacts with the real baby; Other instruments utilized: EPDS, SCL90-R, ISB (Child development interview), Strange Situation. Since the first interview with parents, we offered the opportunity of one or more clinical sessions, in case they were facing psychological problems or critical phases. Our work is still in progress, but most of the collected data has already been analyzed. IRMAG and IRPAG results show a prevalence of "integrated-balanced" representations, while only a small group of subjects were codified as "disengaged" or "ambivalent". These data were compared with the other instruments used. In the presentation of our work we will submit the research methodology, the main results and, in the closing section, we will offer some significant clinical examples.