NextPrevious

The Psychology of Everyday Life:Love, Marriage, and the Baby Carriage

Parenting

What factors help a marriage transition into parenting?

Research has shown that couples that have the most realistic expectations of what life will be like once the baby is born have the easiest adjustment to parenthood. Additional protective factors include clarity and agreement about each parent’s role, the establishment of routines, and protected time to devote to the marriage (e.g., weekly date night). Social support and financial stability also help the marital transition to parenthood.