{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,25]],"date-time":"2026-04-25T15:49:45Z","timestamp":1777132185116,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":44,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,1,3]],"date-time":"2023-01-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1672704000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Psychology Research Centre","award":["PSI\/01662"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["PSI\/01662"]}]},{"name":"Psychology Research Centre","award":["UIDB\/PSI\/01662\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDB\/PSI\/01662\/2020"]}]},{"name":"Psychology Research Centre","award":["UIDB\/05380\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDB\/05380\/2020"]}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001871","name":"Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["PSI\/01662"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["PSI\/01662"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001871","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001871","name":"Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["UIDB\/PSI\/01662\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDB\/PSI\/01662\/2020"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001871","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001871","name":"Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["UIDB\/05380\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDB\/05380\/2020"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001871","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The literature has mainly focused on the impact of the negative aspects of the couple\u2019s relationship on the toddler\u2019s internalizing and externalizing problems. This study explored the impact of the positive and negative dimensions of the couple\u2019s relationship during the transition to parenthood on toddlers\u2019 psychological adjustment, considering the concurrent impact of the couple\u2019s relationship at 30 months postpartum. The sample comprised 115 mothers and fathers (N = 230) recruited during the 1st trimester of pregnancy. The mothers and fathers individually completed a measure of the couple\u2019s relationship (Relationship Questionnaire) during the first trimester of pregnancy, at 3 and 30 months postpartum, and the Child Behavior Checklist 1.5\u20135 at 30 months postpartum. Multiple linear regressions, cluster analyses, and univariate and multivariate analyses of variance were conducted. The positive dimension at the 1st trimester of pregnancy and the negative dimension of the couple\u2019s relationship at 3 months postpartum were the strongest predictors of the toddler\u2019s internalizing problems, while the negative dimension at 3 months postpartum and the positive dimension of the couple\u2019s relationship at 30 months postpartum were the strongest predictors of the toddler\u2019s externalizing problems. Two patterns of the couple\u2019s relationship (adjusted vs. non-adjusted) during the transition to parenthood were identified. Higher levels of internalizing and externalizing problems were found in toddlers from couples with a non-adjusted couple\u2019s relationship. Findings suggested the impact of both positive and negative dimensions of the couple\u2019s relationship during the transition to parenthood on the toddler\u2019s emotional and behavioral problems. Promoting the couple\u2019s relationship adjustment during the transition to parenthood can help to prevent toddlers\u2019 emotional and behavioral problems.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph20010882","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,1,4]],"date-time":"2023-01-04T04:28:17Z","timestamp":1672806497000},"page":"882","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":7,"title":["Couple\u2019s Relationship during the Transition to Parenthood and Toddler\u2019s Emotional and Behavioral Problems"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"20","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7581-8961","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tiago Miguel","family":"Pinto","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Psychology, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal"},{"name":"HEI-Lab: Digital Human-Environment Interaction Lab, Lus\u00f3fona University, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal"}]},{"given":"M. Carmen","family":"M\u00edguez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15705 Santiago de Compostela, Spain"}]},{"given":"B\u00e1rbara","family":"Figueiredo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Psychology, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,1,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Walsh, F. (2012). Normative family transitions, couple relationship quality, and healthy child development. 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