Jealousy of the partner-infant relationship and maternal gatekeeping at the transition to parenthood

This study examined associations between jealousy of the partner-infant relationship and maternal gatekeeping-behaviors that may inhibit or encourage fathers' active engagement in parenting-during the transition to parenthood. A sample of 182 different-sex, dual-earner couples was followed from late pregnancy to 9 months postpartum. Mothers and fathers reported their jealousy of the partner-infant relationship at 3 months postpartum and maternal gatekeeping at 3 and 9 months postpartum. Observed maternal gatekeeping at three and 9 months postpartum was coded from triadic mother-father-infant interactions. Reported gatekeeping was analyzed using a dyadic actor-partner interdependence model, and observed gatekeeping was examined using structural equation models. Maternal jealousy at 3 months predicted relative increases in observed maternal gateclosing from three to 9 months. Paternal jealousy was associated with greater perceived maternal gateclosing and less perceived maternal gateopening, although paternal jealousy did not predict change in perceived maternal gatekeeping over time. These findings suggest that jealousy of the partner-infant relationship may manifest in mothers' restrictive behaviors toward fathers during early coparenting interactions, even when such behaviors are not reflected in self-reports. Results highlight the importance of using multiple measures to capture gatekeeping behaviors and addressing emotional dynamics within the couple relationship to support healthy coparenting during the transition to parenthood. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).