Changes in Marital Satisfaction across Transition to Parenthood: A Systematic Literature Review
Abstract
The transition to parenthood represents a critical phase in married life that can affect various aspects of a marital relationship. Role changes, increased responsibilities, and postpartum emotional and physical stress can influence the dynamics between partners, ultimately impacting marital satisfaction. Although marital satisfaction has been widely studied, research systematically exploring the factors affecting it during the transition to parenthood remains limited. This study aims to identify the factors contributing to marital satisfaction during this transitional period. A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, with articles searched across five major databases: APA PsycArticles, PubMed, Scopus, Sage Journals, and Taylor & Francis. From 20 articles meeting the inclusion criteria, findings indicate that marital satisfaction is influenced by both individual factors (attachment, self-compassion, self-regulation, emotion, mindfulness, psychological distress, and own body satisfaction) and relational factors (perceptions of the partner, communication, interpersonal relationships, conflict resolution, sexual, and readiness for parenthood). Overall, marital satisfaction during the transition to parenthood emerges from the complex interaction between these factors. These results are expected to serve as a reference for counselors and psychologists in understanding the complexities of marital dynamics during the transition to parenthood, as well as providing a foundation for designing more effective interventions.
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30872/psikoborneo.v14i1.20996
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