Alongside collaborators at the University of Georgia and the University of Minnesota, the Williamson Lab has a new paper in press in the journal Family Process which examines the relationships of first-time Black mothers during the first 4 months postpartum. Although a robust literature has identified characteristics that predict changes in relationship satisfaction during the transition to parenthood, the relationships of Black mothers postpartum remain understudied. We found that mothers who reported more commitment and partner support were higher in initial satisfaction, as were mothers who were married or cohabiting with a partner (relative to mothers who were not cohabiting with their partner). Mothers with clinically significant depressive symptoms at 1 week postpartum had lower initial relationship satisfaction than mothers without clinically significant depressive symptoms. Finally, mothers experiencing more sleep difficulties and racial discrimination experienced larger declines in satisfaction.
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