title: Predictors of family and marital functioning at early postpartum.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the predictive role of family sense of coherence, social support and stress during pregnancy and their changes from pregnancy to postpartum on family and marital functioning at 6 weeks postpartum.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Family sense of coherence plays a significant role in promoting positive family and marital functioning, which is crucial to the child's well-being. However, studies that evaluate the predictive role of family sense of coherence on family and marital functioning during parental transition are limited.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study used a longitudinal design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chinese childbearing couples (n = 202) completed assessments of family sense of coherence, stress, social support, and family and marital functioning during pregnancy and at 6 weeks postpartum between January 2011-May 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mothers with a stronger family sense of coherence, greater social support and less stress during pregnancy experienced less decline in family and marital functioning at 6 weeks postpartum, while fathers with a higher prenatal family sense of coherence and family and marital functioning also experienced less such decline.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Couple-based interventions should be initiated early during pregnancy by strengthening family sense of coherence and social support to promote positive family functioning.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Fei Wan
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Ngai
authors.forename: Siew Fei
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Ngu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy
keywords: family and marital functioning; family sense of coherence; midwives; parenthood; social support; stress