Why are Parents so Unhappy? The Impact of Conflicts on Parents’ Relationship Satisfaction

• In Event: 487 - Section on the Sociology of the Family. Family Relationships across the Life Course

Abstract

This study examined the underlying mechanisms that lead to a decline in relationship satisfaction across the transition to parenthood. Specifically, the authors investigated the mediating roles of conflict frequency and conflict management. Using longitudinal data from six waves of the German family panel pairfam (N = 2,318), they found that declines in mothers´ relationship satisfaction can be attributed to increasing levels of conflict frequency following childbirth. Constructive conflict behavior is further more beneficial for the relationship satisfaction of parents compared to nonparents. However, the couples' conflict behavior does not change across the transition to parenthood. The data do not indicate long-term declines in fathers’ relationship satisfaction. Instead, men’s levels of relationship satisfaction rise during their partners’ pregnancy and return to pre-pregnancy levels within the first year of fatherhood.

Authors

• Björn Huß, Bielefeld University

• Matthias Pollmann-Schult, Magdeburg University