Predictors of relationship quality during the transition to parenthood

Abstract

Objective: The present study examined predictors of relationship quality among a sample of first-time parents. Background: The transition to parenthood engenders both joys and challenges for parents and has been a focus of interest to scholars for decades. On average, couple relationship quality declines following the birth of a first child, but research has moved beyond averages and focused instead on uncovering factors that lead some couples to improve in relationship quality and others to decline. Methods: Using data collected from 29 first-time parent dyads, this short-term longitudinal study examined the ways in which similarity between mothers’ and fathers’ role expectations at birth, similarity of individual parents’ ideal versus actual parenting responsibilities at six months, and parents’ satisfaction with the division of childrearing responsibilities at six months were related to parents’ reports of relationship quality at child age six months. Results: Regressions revealed that mothers’ relationship quality was predicted by their satisfaction with the division of childrearing responsibilities. Partners’ relationship quality was predicted by mothers and partners holding similar beliefs about the importance of partners fulfilling various roles and marginally by whether partners’ ideal division of role responsibilities matched the actual division of responsibilities. Conclusion: Although limited by the small sample size, these results suggest that expectations regarding parenting role responsibilities are an area worthy of further research. Just as premarital programmes encourage couples to discuss areas of difference before marriage, prenatal couples should be encouraged to resolve differences in their expectations of one another as parents.