Strategies to promote mental health of married couples throughout the ante-and post-natal period

200 Pages·2014·5.3 MB·English

by  Van Niekerk, Vasti

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How to cite this thesis
Surname, Initial(s). (2012) Title of the thesis or dissertation. PhD. (Chemistry)/ M.Sc. (Physics)/
M.A. (Philosophy)/M.Com. (Finance) etc. [Unpublished]: University of Johannesburg. Retrieved
from: https://ujdigispace.uj.ac.za (Accessed: Date).
STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE THE MENTAL HEALTH OF MARRIED
COUPLES THROUGHOUT THE ANTE- AND POST NATAL PERIOD

by

VASTI VAN NIEKERK

THESIS

submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of

DOCTOR CURATIONIS

In

PSYCHIATRIC AND MENTAL HEALTH NURSING SCIENCE

In the

DEPARTMENT OF NURSING SCIENCE

In the

FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES

Of the

UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG

SUPERVISOR: PROF M POGGENPOEL
CO-SUPERVISOR: PROF CPH MYBURGH

2013

DEDICATION

I dedicate this thesis to my husband, Llewellyn van Niekerk and my twins, Reinhardt
and Markus van Niekerk.

“Somehow, out of all the twists and turns our lives could have taken,
And out of all the chances we might have missed,
It almost seems like we were given a meant-to-be moment…
That turned out to mean the world to me.”
Anonymous
Thank you for meaning the world to me.

I also dedicate this study to my parents, Gerrit and Heilie Odendaal who made the
transition to parenthood effectively four times. I salute you.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Jesus Christ, my Saviour. Thank you for the grace in my life and for giving me the
energy and determination in this journey.

To all the people who were a part of the story of this finished research study. Thank
you for being part of my “life story”.
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SUMMARY

The overall goal of this research study was to explore and describe strategies in
order to promote the mental health of married couples throughout the ante- and
postnatal period.

The majority of research on the transition to parenthood has found that as couples
become parents, there is a dramatic decrease in positive marital interchanges, a
dramatic increase in marital conflict and a precipitous decline in marital satisfaction
(Belsky & Kelly, 1994; Belsky & Pensky, 1988: 133-156; Belsky, Spanier & Rovine,
1983: 567-577). The transition to parenthood is viewed as instigating a shift in the
marriage whereby most couples are expected to experience a qualitative change in
their relationship that is relatively abrupt (Pancer, Pratt, Hunsberger & Gallant, 2000:
253-280). Becoming a new parent poses challenges for nearly every married couple
(Curran, Hazen, Jacobvitz & Feldman, 2005: 189).

Becoming a parent is a major developmental transition of adulthood (Harwood,
McLean & Durkin, 2007: 1). Individuals often have optimistic expectations about
parenthood, yet this transition also presents a number of challenges (Harwood et al,
2007: 1). The questions that arose was what are the stories of married couples
throughout the ante- and postnatal period of their first child, and what can be done
by an advanced psychiatric nursing practitioner to promote the mental health of
married couples based on their story.

The researcher utilised a qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual study
design as described in Babbie (2010: 92). This research study was carried out in four
phases.

During the first phase of this research study, the researcher explored and described
the stories of married couples throughout the ante- and postnatal period of their first
child according to the quest narrative method described by Frank (1997: 115). The
results were discussed within relevant literature.

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In the second phase of this research study the researcher developed a conceptual
framework on the basis of the empirical data. The conceptual framework was
developed according to the concepts as proposed by Dickoff, James and
Wiedenbach (1968: 435).

The researcher described strategies, to promote the mental health of married
couples throughout the ante- and postnatal period of their first child, in the third
phase of this research study. These strategies were described according to a
relationship phase, a working phase and a termination phase as part of the
facilitation process. These three phases were discussed as part of a proposed
facilitation process that forms part of the developed conceptual framework.

In the fourth phase of this research study, the developed strategies were subjected
to expert assessment according to the criteria stated by Chinn and Kramer (2011:
196-205).

The findings of the research study are applicable to psychiatric nursing practice,
research and psychiatric nursing education.
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LIST OF PICTURES AND FIGURES

Figure 3.1: Relationship circle after the birth of a baby as experienced by a new
father ........................................................................................................................ 56

Picture 3.1: The gift of love ....................................................................................... 84
Picture 3.2: The road of Rachel’s pregnancy ........................................................... 87
Picture 3.3: Rachel’s image of her pregnancy .......................................................... 89
Picture 3.4: The journey of Rachel’s pregnancy ....................................................... 90
Picture 3.5: Time is up .............................................................................................. 91
Picture 3.6: Emotional experiences in theatre .......................................................... 92
Picture 3.7: Overwhelming feelings after the birth of a baby .................................... 94
Picture 3.8: Experience a lack of control .................................................................. 95
Picture 3.9: Voiceless-ness ...................................................................................... 96
Picture 3.10: Loneliness ........................................................................................... 97
Picture 3.11: No chance to turn around .................................................................... 98
Picture 3.12: United in God’s protection ................................................................... 99
Picture 3.13: Feelings of acceptance and calmness .............................................. 100
Picture 3.14: Breastfeeding: The ultimate sign of motherhood ............................... 101
Picture 3.15: Expectation of alone-time for the new family. .................................... 102
Picture 3.16: Support people .................................................................................. 104
Picture 3.17: From life…into life ............................................................................. 105
Figure 4.1: Relationship circle after the birth of a baby as experienced by Johan in
narrative 1 .............................................................................................................. 117
Figure 4.2: Relationship circle as experienced by Sarah in narrative 2 .................. 118
Figure 4.3: Relationship circle as experienced by Pieter in narrative 3 .................. 119
Figure 4.4: Relationship circle as experienced by Louisa in narrative 4 ................. 120
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Figure 5.1: The researcher’s thinking map ............................................................. 141
Figure 5.2: The conceptual framework for the strategies to facilitate a married
couple’s mental health throughout the ante- and postnatal period of their first child.
............................................................................................................................... 151

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APPENDICES

Ethical clearance certificate .................................................................................. 1867
Consent form ........................................................................................................ 1889
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