Development of the Harmony Scale for Postpartum Couples for First-time Parents

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Family Studies
• Maternal Health

Background:

• Childbirth transitions couples from dyadic to triadic family structures.
• Maintaining relationship harmony is crucial during this adaptation period.
• Existing tools may not adequately assess postpartum couple dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate the Harmony Scale for Postpartum Couples (HSPC).
• To provide a reliable and valid measure of couple harmony in the early postpartum phase.
• To support early identification of relational difficulties and inform interventions.

Main Methods:

• Scale development in three phases: conceptual framework, expert review, item analysis, and psychometric validation.
• Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used.
• Data collected from 376 participants (188 couples) with infants aged 3-6 months.

Main Results:

• The final 15-item, four-factor HSPC was developed, assessing Intimacy with Partner, Physical・Social Health, Mental Health, and Self-Efficacy in Parenting.
• The scale demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = .825).
• Confirmatory factor analysis supported construct validity (GFI=.908, AGFI=.869, CFI=.880, RMSEA=.083).

Conclusions:

• The HSPC is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing couple harmony in the early postpartum period.
• The scale can facilitate early detection of relationship issues.
• It can guide interventions to enhance family functioning, parental well-being, and infant health.