title: Family sense of coherence and family and marital functioning across the perinatal period.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A family sense of coherence is central to successfully coping with family stressors and facilitates positive adaptation. Little is known about the implications of family sense of coherence for family adaptation during the transition to parenthood.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to examine the role of family sense of coherence in family and marital functioning during the perinatal period.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study used a longitudinal design. A convenience sample of 202 Chinese childbearing couples completed the Medical Outcomes Study Family and Marital Functioning Measures and Family Sense of Coherence Scale during pregnancy, at 6 weeks and at 6 months postpartum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that the couples experienced a substantial decline in family and marital functioning postpartum and that a strong family sense of coherence was associated with better family and marital functioning in the perinatal period. The levels of family sense of coherence for both mothers and fathers were fairly stable across the perinatal period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study provides evidence that family sense of coherence plays a significant role in promoting family and marital functioning during the transition to parenthood.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Room 417, 4/F, William M W Mong Block, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. Electronic address: fwngai@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Fei-Wan
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Ngai
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen Mary Hospital, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, 6/F, William MW Mong Block, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Siew-Fei
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Ngu
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D036801:Parturition; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000523:psychology*; D060685:Sense of Coherence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Family functioning; Family sense of coherence; Postpartum; Pregnancy