Having a Baby
Impact on Married and Cohabiting Parents’ Relationships
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21320090 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Maggie O’Reilly Treter (0000-0002-9560-5947, Department of Psychology The University of Denver Denver CO USA, corresponding author), Galena K Rhoades (0000-0003-3514-8139, Department of Psychology The University of Denver Denver CO USA), Shelby B Scott (0000-0001-7739-9281, Department of Psychology University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio TX USA), Howard J Markman (0000-0003-0050-6426, Department of Psychology The University of Denver Denver CO USA), Scott M Stanley (0000-0001-8323-3501, Department of Psychology The University of Denver Denver CO USA) |
| Year | 2021 |
| Volume | 60 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 477-492 |
| Publication date | 2021-06-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Family Process (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0014-7370 • E-ISSN: 1545-5300 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1111/famp.12567 |
| PMID | 32681747 |
| OpenAlex | W3043286673 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 12 |
| References cited | 31 |
The current study evaluates the effects of having a baby on relationship quality and stability, contrasting married and unmarried cohabiting parents ( N = 179; 38% unmarried cohabiting). Participants provided several waves of data, including time points before, during, and after pregnancy. Results indicated that cohabiting parents broke up at a significantly higher rate after having a baby compared to married parents. In terms of relationship quality, interrupted time‐series analyses indicated that negative communication significantly increased after baby regardless of marital status. In addition, married parents had significantly higher levels of relationship satisfaction and commitment before baby compared to cohabiting parents but experienced modest declines in relationship satisfaction after baby. Cohabiting parents did not show such declines but remained lower in satisfaction throughout the study. Gender moderated commitment trajectories, such that married and cohabiting women demonstrated decreased commitment after baby, but married and cohabiting men demonstrated no significant changes in commitment. This study adds to the literature by examining both relationship stability and relationship quality trajectories from before pregnancy to after the birth of a baby among married and cohabiting parents in the same sample. Implications of these findings for practice and future research are discussed
Cohabitation · Developmental psychology · Geography · Sociology · Assisted Reproductive Technology and Twin Pregnancy · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Demography · Family Dynamics and Relationships · Medicine · Psychology
Quality of Sexuality during Pregnancy, We Must Do Something—Survey Study
The effects of group mentalization‐based treatment‐P on cognitive emotion regulation and tic symptoms in children with tic disorders
Three’s company? Examining the association between dog ownership and intimacy, jealousy, and satisfaction in romantic couples
Trajectories of relationship quality and conflict in low‐income parents receiving home visitation services
The Stable Low‐Conflict Index
Predictors of change in relationship satisfaction among Black postpartum mothers
Comparing Premaritally Pregnant Couples and Demographically Matched Nonpregnant Controls on Recalled Relationship Progression and Marital Outcomes
Betrayal as Epistemic Rupture
Cohabitation, Marriage, and Union Dissolution in Norway
Diapers vs. Date Nights
Relationship satisfaction and commitment in the transition to parenthood
Trayectorias de convivencia no matrimonial
Sliding Versus Deciding
Marital satisfaction across the transition to parenthood.
Should I stay or should I go? Predicting dating relationship stability from four aspects of commitment.
Changes in relationship satisfaction across the transition to parenthood
The transition to parenthood
Testing the ruler with item response theory
From Partnership to Parenthood
Relationship Supportiveness During the Transition to Parenting Among Married and Unmarried Parents
An Ambiguous Commitment
Pathways to a Stable Union? Pregnancy and Childbearing Among Cohabiting and Married Couples
The effect of the transition to parenthood on relationship quality
Married Individuals, Cohabiters, and Cohabiters Who Marry
Assessing Commitment in Personal Relationships
Patterns of Marital Change across the Transition to Parenthood
The Assessment of Marital Quality
Relationship Quality Among Cohabiting Versus Married Couples
The Revised Commitment Inventory
Maybe I Do
If Momma Ain't Happy
| Unique citing works | 12 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 3 |
| Citation span | 2022 - 2026 (5) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 12 |