First- and second-time parents’ couple relationship: from pregnancy to second year postpartum

Abstract

First- and second-time parents’ couple relationships were studied from early pregnancy to the second year postpartum. The Relationship Questionnaire (RQ) was administered to Portuguese couples (N = 82), first- or second-time parents, at the first, second and third pregnancy trimester, childbirth, 3 and 18 months postpartum. Adverse changes in positive and negative partner relationship dimensions were reported from early pregnancy to the second year postpartum by all participants; in the same way by mothers and fathers and by first- and second-time parents. Second-time parents reported a worse couple relationship (lower RQ-positive scores) than first-time parents, but only during pregnancy. Results from the present study suggest a decline in partner relationship quality during the transition to parenthood both in mothers and fathers, as well as in first- and second-time parents.

Keywords:

• gender differences
• marital satisfaction
• parenthood
• parity
• pregnancy

ORCID

Bárbara Figueiredo http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8209-7445

Ana Conde http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3036-2670

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by FEDER Funds through the Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade – COMPETE and by National Funds through FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia under the project [PTDC/SAU/SAP/116738/2010].