Individual Differences in Males’ and Females’ Prenatal Empathy Predict Postpartum Parenting Stress

Prenatal empathy and postpartum parenting stress were measured in first-time parents. Fathers’ perspective taking and mothers’ personal distress ratings predicted higher parenting stress, while mothers’ empathic concern predicted lower parenting stress. These data dovetail with the parenting brain literature and highlight the importance of individual differences in adjustment to parenthood.