Changes in relationship satisfaction across the transition to parenthood: a meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT: The U.S. government has recently spent several hundred million dollars to promote healthy relationships in new parents. The influx of money implies that relationships of new parents are at elevated risk for declining satisfaction and dissolution. This meta-analysis aggregates data from 37 studies that track couples from pregnancy to after the birth of the first child and 4 studies that track childless newlywed couples over time and compare couples who do and do not become parents. Results indicate significant, small declines in relationship satisfaction for both men and women from pregnancy to 11 months postbirth; 5 studies that followed couples for 12-14 months found moderate-sized declines. Seven variables moderated the decrease in relationship satisfaction from pregnancy to early parent

SUBMITTER: Mitnick DM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2812012 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature