Parental Identity Development Processes as Predictors of Personal Growth During the Transition to Parenthood Among First-Time Expecting Mothers and Fathers.

Objective: Using a two-point design, this study examined five parental identity development processes as predictors of personal growth following birth among first-time expecting mothers and fathers. Background: Although personal growth during the transition to parenthood has been documented and several factors promoting it have been identified, much remains unknown about what enables people to grow through this experience. Parental identity development, which has been linked to positive adjustment and well-being during this transition, represents an unexplored framework for understanding personal growth during this critical period. Method: A total of 169 first-time expectant parents (97 women, Mage = 31.9, SD = 3.46; 72 men, Mage = 32.1, SD = 3.43) participated in this two-point design study: 1–3 months before birth (T1) and 3–5 months after birth (T2). Results: Women showedanincrease in personal growth following birth, while men showed a decrease. Only Identification with Commitment—one of the five parental identity processes—measured before birth predicted personal growth after birth for both genders. Among men, increases in three of these processes were associated with decreases in personal growth. Conclusions: These findings highlight the complex and gendered relationship between parental identity development and personal growth during the transition to parenthood, suggesting that these two frameworks are mutually informative: parental identity processes predict the emergence of personal growth, while personal growth outcomes reveal the complexity and nuance of parental identity formation during this pivotal period.