Marital relations during the transition to parenthood

Abstract

Aspects of marital relations over the transition to parenthood were studied as part of a longitudinal study of the experiences of first-time parents. The response of the sample was complex. Marital satisfaction started high and showed only a modest decline overall. Many parents reported gains in their marriage due to having a child. There were, however, more negative features. Uathcr more than one in 10 couples had significantly weakened marriages by the end of the transition period: parental age and length of marriage appeared to be relevant factors in this group, with younger couples and marriages of shorter duration more ‘at risk’. Moreover, this figure may be higher nationally because of the undcr-reprcsentation of certain ‘at risk’ groups in the sample. Finally, it is argued that the roots of further and later decline in many marriages can be seen in the transition period, especially in the areas of sexual relationships and men's lack of understanding of the experiences of women providing full-time childcare at home.