Application of resilience theories in the transition to parenthood: a scoping review

ABSTRACT

Objective: Investigate the use of resilience theories in the transition to parenthood literature.

Background: The transition to parenthood is a key developmental experience for many adults. Resilience is a unifying theoretical concept which incorporates many of the skills and resources linked with the transition to parenthood, but the uptake of resilience theory in this literature is unknown.

Methods: We used a scoping review to examine the use of resilience theory in published transition to parenthood research. This included a systematic search of the literature, descriptive analysis of theories and methods used and an assessment of theoretical integration.

Results: We identified 17 studies which met inclusion criteria. Explicit use of theory occurred in six studies and quality of theoretical integration was high for all of these. Resilience was seen as a desirable concept for mapping complex data, taking a holistic approach to psychological health and acknowledging environmental and systemic influences. We also identified 29 resilience supporting factors including positive self-concept, optimism, social support, family relationships, community services and social connectedness.

Conclusion: Resilience is a useful concept for synthesising information about the transition to parenthood.

KEYWORDS:

• Resilience
• adjustment
• coping
• parent
• social support
• theory
• scoping review

Acknowledgements

The authors thank research librarian Maureen Bell for technical assistance in crafting the search strategy. We also thank perinatal psychologists Dr Katherine Reynolds, Dr Stephanie Swanson and Angie Willcox for assisting with relevance screening.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.