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

Mitnick, Danielle M.; Heyman, Richard E.; Smith Slep, Amy M.

doi:10.1037/a0017004

Cited by 392Attachment and Relationship DynamicsFamily Dynamics and RelationshipsMarriage and Sexual Relationships

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

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Mitnick, Danielle M., Heyman, Richard E., Smith Slep, Amy M.·2009·Journal of Family Psychology

DOI 10.1037/a0017004PMC PMC2812012

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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 parenthood. However, the decrease in satisfaction may not indicate anything unique about the transition to parenthood; the 4 studies following newlyweds indicated that those who do not become parents experience a decrease in relationship satisfaction similar to that of parents across a comparable span of time. Implications for prevention and future directions are discussed.

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Couple satisfaction often shows a marked decline across the transition to parenthood.
“Couple satisfaction often shows a marked decline across the transition to parenthood (C.Cowan & Cowan, 1992;Mitnick, Heyman, & Smith Slep, 2009), which can result in psychological distress (Bodenmann & Randall, 2013).”
From Couples becoming parents: Trajectories for psychological distress and buffering effects of social support (2020) · cites this paper as Mitnick, Heyman, & Smith Slep, 2009

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Authors: Mitnick, D. M., Heyman, R. E., & Smith Slep, A. M.
Affiliations: Stony Brook University (US)
State University of New York (US)
ORCID: Mitnick, Danielle M.
Heyman, Richard E.
Venue: Journal of Family Psychology
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 2009
Volume: 23
Issue: 6
Pages: 848-852
ISSN: 0893-3200 (ISSN-L)
1939-1293
DOI: 10.1037/a0017004
PMC: PMC2812012
OpenAlex: W2024115764
Cited by: 391
References: 26
Citations by year: 2026: 11 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 84 · 2019: 27 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 34 · 2015: 29 · 2014: 25 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 22
FWCI: 14.80
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Locations: Journal of Family Psychology (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R01HD046901-01)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (1U49CE001246-01)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
Social Sciences › Demography › Family Dynamics and Relationships
Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Marriage and Sexual Relationships
Keywords: relationship satisfaction, transition to parenthood, couples, pregnancy, postpartum period, newlyweds, childless couples, prevention
MeSH terms: Adult, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Parents, Personal Satisfaction, Pregnancy, Parenting

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

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