American International Journal of Social Science

Experiences Regarding the Transition to Parenthood in Turkish Culture and Family Resilience: A Qualitative Study
Hüdayar CIHAN GUNGOR

Abstract
Summary: The transition to parenthood with the birth of a child is one of the basic stages in family life cycle. The aim of this study was firstly to describe experiences that parents have in the addition of a child to the family in transition to parenthood and secondly to understand protective factors which make them resilient during transition to parenthood according to Walsh’s family resilience approach. It was conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with 11 parents, three of them were male and eight were female. Their ages ranged from 22 to 46 (mean = 31.3 years, Sd=6.10). The length of marriages ranged from 2 to 6 years (mean = 3.9 years, Sd =1.28). It was used criterion-based sampling method. Findings: The results of the study include two basic themes which are Parental Stress and Coping Resources. There are three main categories under the theme of Parental Stress (problems in couple relationships, postpartum period, and parenthood characteristics). Meanwhile, there are three main categories under the theme of coping resources (belief systems, couple relationship, and social support resources). Application: The outcomes of this study provides valuable information to family psychologists, psychological counselors, social workers and family therapists about what families go through when they become parents and what are the protective factors contributing to their family resilience to cope with the situation. The findings were discussed in the light of relevant literature.

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