Gender roles and alcohol abuse across the transition to parenthood

The transition to parenthood has been occurring within the context of the increasing labor force participation of women and potential stress-related costs of "nontraditional" as well as "traditional" gender role choices of new parents. This study addressed the extent to which gender role-related stressors lead to increased problem drinking across the transition to parenthood.

Fifty-five married couples expecting their first child were obtained from seven Chicago area hospitals and surveyed with a mailed questionnaire at two points in time: (1) during the second trimester of pregnancy and (2) at 6 months following childbirth. The study examined both wives' and husbands' changes in problem-related drinking by comparing problem drinking during the 6 months prior to pregnancy (retrospectively assessed at Time 1) with drinking during the 6 months following childbirth using a modified form of the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test. In addition, the study contrasted problem drinkers with nonproblem drinkers following parenthood with regard to role overload (overwhelming demands from work and family roles), role deprivation (loss of work role following parenthood) and role deterioration (decreased support from role relationships).

The data show increased problem drinking for both mothers and fathers but fail to support either role overload or role deprivation hypotheses. However, the data are congruent with the role deterioration perspective.

If these findings are replicated, future studies of gender roles and alcohol abuse should focus greater attention on the perceived quality of social roles beyond noting their presence or absence.