A study examining the leisure activities of Swedish couples expecting a child revealed that from the 19th week of pregnancy to 1 year post-childbirth, mothers typically increase their frequency of prayer. Conversely, they allocate less time for personal endeavors and socializing with friends. Fathers, however, tend to reduce the time they spend exercising. The study was published in Sex Roles.
The period when a couple finds out that they will have a child is a period of great personal change. As they transition to parenthood, both soon-to-be mothers and fathers begin acquiring the skills, resources, and behaviors essential for child-rearing. This might involve reorganizing their living space to accommodate the baby, contemplating relocation, and earnestly acquiring skills needed for infant care. They frequently reassess and plan shifts in their work routines and make adjustments in numerous other life domains.
One such domain is leisure activities. These are enjoyable pursuits individuals partake in during their free time, including hobbies like sports, reading, gardening, art, travel, gaming, and more. People engage in these activities for personal gratification and recreation. By nature, these are neither paid tasks nor unpaid caregiving duties performed for others, but activities that enhance well-being by offering relaxation and personal fulfillment outside work or other responsibilities.
Study author Lucy R. Zheng and her colleagues wanted to explore how leisure activities of expectant mothers and fathers change from week 19 of pregnancy onward. They also wanted to know whether leisure activities of mothers and fathers differ and if the changes are the same or different in couple members. To increase the precision of the study, they decided to focus on six leisure activities – listening to the news on radio/podcast/TV, exercising, reading a newspaper or news tabloids, spending time just for oneself, spending time with friends, and praying to God.
The researchers analyzed data from the Swedish Pregnancy Panel, which is a continuous survey of pregnant women and their partners, supplemented with information from the Swedish Pregnancy Register. The study encompassed 918 first-time expectant heterosexual couples from the 19th week of pregnancy to 1 year post-childbirth. Throughout this duration, the couples filled out four surveys—two before and two after the child’s birth. However, there was a decline in participation over time, with only 453 couples finishing the final survey. A majority, 93-95% of couples, completed the surveys in Swedish, but options in English, Arabic, and Somali were also available.
Recruitment for the survey took place in the ultrasound waiting area of Sweden’s largest maternity hospital. As prospective participants awaited their initial or subsequent trimester ultrasound screenings, researchers approached them, inviting them to fill out the first questionnaire on tablets. As a token of appreciation, participants received 100 SEK gift cards.
Each survey required participants to state the frequency of their engagement in the six aforementioned leisure activities over the previous three months. Data about the participants’ household income, educational background, age, nationality, and marital status were also collected. Both mothers and fathers filled out the questionnaires independently.
At the study’s commencement, fathers generally listened to news weekly and exercised multiple times a month, more than mothers did. Conversely, mothers were more inclined to read newspapers or tabloids monthly and often dedicated more time for personal relaxation and socializing than fathers. Both mothers and fathers seldom engaged in prayer.
As the study progressed, mothers reduced the time they set aside for themselves and their friends but increased the frequency of their prayers. Fathers, on the other hand, exercised less frequently. Notably, the researchers observed that couples often aligned their leisure activity levels. Most commonly, mothers reduced their personal and social time, and fathers’ exercise frequency lowered to match their partners’. The frequency of other leisure activities remained stable.
The authors concluded, “During the transition to parenthood, mothers and fathers may find that competing expectations (personal versus child well-being) alter their leisure routines and role as an individual within the family unit. However, this study suggests that while there are changes in leisure during this important time, the changes are not limited to only one parent or one type of leisure activity.”
“Thus, in this study, conducted in a context with state support for family and gender egalitarian norms, we find that the transition to parenthood is a balancing act between mothers and fathers. Mothers and fathers both adjust their frequency of leisure during late pregnancy and first year of parenthood and narrow some gender gaps in leisure activities.”
The study makes a valuable contribution to understanding the behavioral changes during transition to parenthood. However, it also has limitations that need to be taken into account. Notably, leisure activities were limited to just 6 different activities, each measured through only one question. Additionally, researchers note that there might be oscillations in the activity they referred to as “time just for oneself” that are more complex than a simple reduction or increase in frequency over time.
The study, “A Longitudinal Dyadic Study of Six Leisure Activities in Swedish Couples During the Transition to Parenthood”, was authored by Lucy R. Zheng, Elin Naurin, Elias Markstedt, Petrus Olander, Helen Elden, and Karolina Linden.
