Synonyms
Introduction
Though often colloquially described as an exciting new time for couples, the stress of becoming first-time parents very often leads to marital dissatisfaction and difficulties. For most couples, the transition to parenthood (TTP) occurs within the first 5 years of marriage, and with this transition comes a significant qualitative change in the relationship. Research has consistently demonstrated that a decline in marital satisfaction occurs in the majority of couples following the birth of the first child and that these declines persist beyond the first year of the child’s life (e.g., Doss et al. 2009). Furthermore, relationship adjustment during the TTP has important implications for the infant. Indeed, relationship distress is linked to children’s poorer physiological, psychological, and social functioning.
Fortunately, the TTP may be a time when couples are open to, and often actively seeking, parenting and relationship enhancing...
References
Biehle, S. N., & Mickelson, K. D. (2012). First-time parents’ expectations about the division of childcare and play. Journal of Family Psychology, 26(1), 36–45. doi:10.1037/a0026608.
Chan, C. Y., Lee, A. M., Lam, S. K., Lee, C. P., Leung, K. Y., Koh, Y. W., & Tang, C. S. K. (2013). Antenatal anxiety in the first trimester: Risk factors and effects on anxiety and depression in the third trimester and 6-week postpartum. Open Journal of Psychiatry, 3, 301–310. doi:10.4236/ojpsych.2013.33030.
Doss, B. D., & Rhoades, G. K. (2017). The transition to parenthood: Impact on couples’ romantic relationships. Current Opinion in Psychology, 13, 25–28.
Doss, B. D., Rhoades, G. K., Stanley, S. M., & Markman, H. J. (2009). The effect of the transition to parenthood on relationship quality: An 8-year prospective study. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 96(3), 601–619.
Doss, B. D., Cicila, L. N., Hsueh, A. C., Morrison, K. R., & Carhart, K. (2014). A randomized controlled trial of brief coparenting and relationship interventions during the transition to parenthood. Journal of Family Psychology, 28(4), 483–494.
Harwood, K., McLean, N., & Durkin, K. (2007). First-time mothers’ expectations of parenthood: What happens when optimistic expectations are not matched by later experiences? Developmental Psychology, 43, 1–12. doi:10.1037/0012-1649.43.1.1.
Lawrence, E., Rothman, A. D., Cobb, R. J., & Bradbury, T. N. (2010). Marital satisfaction across the transition to parenthood: Three eras of research. In M. S. Schulz, M. Pruett, P. K. Kerig, & R. D. Parke (Eds.), Strengthening couple relationships for optimal child development: Lessons from research and intervention (pp. 97–114). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. doi:10.1037/12058-007.
McHale, J., Kuersten-Hogan, R., & Rao, N. (2004). Growing points for coparenting theory and research. Journal of Adult Development, 11, 221–234. doi:10.1023/B:JADE.0000035629.29960.ed.
Petch, J. F., Halford, W. K., Creedy, D. K., & Gamble, J. (2012). A randomized controlled trial of a couple relationship and coparenting program (Couple CARE for Parents) for high-and low-risk new parents. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 80(4), 662–673.
Schulz, M. S., Cowan, C. P., & Cowan, P. A. (2006). Promoting healthy beginnings: A randomized controlled trial of a preventative intervention to preserve marital quality during the transition to parenthood. Joural of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 71(1), 20–31.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Section Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2016 Springer International Publishing AG
About this entry
Cite this entry
Roddy, M.K., Georgia, E.J., Doss, B.D. (2016). Infants in Couple and Family Therapy. In: Lebow, J., Chambers, A., Breunlin, D. (eds) Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15877-8_422-1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15877-8_422-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-15877-8
eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences