Relationship Trajectories, Parenting Stress, and Unwed Mothers' Transition to a New Baby

OBJECTIVE: The present study examined associations between unwed mothers' residency and romantic relationships with the biological father during the transition to a new baby and mothers' later parenting stress. It also examined whether fathers' financial and caregiving support accounted for variation in parenting stress across relationship trajectories. DESIGN: Data were drawn from first two waves of the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS) (N = 2,736 in 18 cities), with relationship status measured at the focal child's birth and one year later, and parenting stress measured one year after birth. RESULTS: Parenting stress was highest among mothers who broke up with the father during the first year and lowest among those in consistent romantic relationships regardless of parents' coresidence status. Both fathers' financial and caregiving support mediated the association between relationship dissolution and higher maternal parenting stress, although caregiving support accounted for a larger proportion of the variation. CONCLUSIONS: Programs to support low-income, unwed mothers should understand the hardships of a breakup may spill over into other socioemotional domains, such as parenting, when experienced during the transition to a new baby and that mothers who have experienced a breakup may require additional caregiving support services during this vulnerable time.