ROLE DISSATISFACTION AND THE DECLINE IN MARITAL QUALITY ACROSS THE TRANSITION TO PARENTHOOD

A study of 59 couples was undertaken to examine the changes in marital quality across the transition to parenthood, and to test the hypothesis that the level of dissatisfaction with partner's postpartum role performance would moderate the effects of time on marital quality. Mean levels of both males' and females' affectional expression were lower 3 months after the event than during the prepartum period. Consistent with expectations, the decline in females' levels of affectional expression was evident only for those who were dissatisfied with their partner's postpartum role performance. There was also evidence that the perception that one's spouse was contributing fairly to the performance of household tasks was associated with an increase in females' levels of marital quality across the transition to parenthood. There was no evidence to support the prediction that levels of dissatisfaction with partner's role performance would moderate the effects of time on males' reports of marital quality.