The Transition to Parenthood: How a First Child Changes a Marriage : why Some Couples Grow Closer and Others Apart"Over a seven-year period, Dr. Jay Belsky, a professor of human development at Penn State University, conducted a major study of 250 couples entering the transition to parenthood - the period that runs from the third trimester of pregnancy to the child's third birthday. His conclusion: The birth of a child is one of the greatest challenges to a couple's marriage - financially, emotionally, physically, and sexually. For many new parents, the impact is supremely negative: The workload at home increases, with women resenting the heavy new burden; communication between husband and wife diminishes and may never be the same again; sex may all but disappear. Yet for other couples, the marriage survives and is even strengthened." "By examining the experiences of three representative couples, The Transition to Parenthood defines the qualities and capacities couples need to navigate the transition successfully. Couples will find the answers to questions that plague them during the transition, and will take comfort in knowing that they are not alone in feeling lost and confused during a time that they had expected to be one of blissful contentment."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved |
Contents
THE TRANSITION DOMAINS | 93 |
Common Ground | 121 |
The Good Companion | 153 |
Copyright | |
6 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
ability Akers Akerses asked baby baby's arrival Barbara D'Amato began behavior Belsky birth Cal and Jennifer Cal's career Carlsons child chores communication Conflict Management conversation couple's diaper division of labor division-of-labor domains Egalitarian emotional Emotionality feel felt fight follow-up interview Frank Marshall friends gender ideology Hanukkah bush happened hematoma husband and wife husbands and wives important in-laws individual intake interview issues Jennifer's Journal of Marriage kitchen later Lem and Tina Lem's less looked Marital Quality Questionnaire marital satisfaction maternal minutes months morning needs negative night observation obstetrician parents partner Penn percent postbaby prebaby pregnancy problems reason relationship Renselears Ron's scored seemed share spend spouse stresses Sue's surprised talk things thought Tina's tion told transition to parenthood upset usually violated expectations vulnerable wanted weeks wife's wives woman women