A UCLan research team is looking for volunteers who have become parents in the past three years
If you have become a new parent in the past three years, then a group of University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) researchers want to hear from you.
The research team has launched a new study examining expectations about becoming a parent and how these impact health and wellbeing.
Dr Rebecca Nowland, UCLan Research Fellow in Child and Family Health and Wellbeing, said: “Expectant parents have expectations about what becoming a parent will be like and the reality of being a parent is sometime very different to what was expected.
“This difference between expectations of parenthood and the reality of being a parent can be difficult for some parents and has been associated with depression, stress and anxiety for new parents.
“Despite this there has been little research about this and few qualitative studies that have explored parents’ perspectives about this.”
"This difference between expectations of parenthood and the reality of being a parent can be difficult for some parents"
— Dr Rebecca Nowland, UCLan Research Fellow in Child and Family Health and Wellbeing
The Parenting Expectations: Exploring the Experiences of Parents and Stakeholders (PEEPS) project will address the research gap by undertaking interviews to capture parents’ thoughts, feelings and opinions about parenting expectations.
The group will interview parents who have children under three years of age about their experiences of expectations surrounding parenthood.
Dr Nowland added: “We are interested in hearing about what are parents’ expectations and what happens when their expectations are different from the reality of parenthood.
“We will also interview key professionals who support families, including health visitors, midwives, GPs and doulas, to explore what constitutes and influences parenting expectations and how they have impacted the families in their care.”
To participate, please contact Lara McNally by email. All participants will receive a £10 shopping e-voucher.