Casado con hijos=infelicidad?

Marital bliss isn’t child’s play.


Couples are less likely to find happiness ever after if they have children, especially right after tying the knot, according to a new study.

The eight-year survey of 218 couples found that children brought on a sudden case of the relationship blues, with about 90 percent of mothers and fathers feeling dissatisfied with their partner after the birth of a child, according to research published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

“The first three or four months are like baby boot camp,” said Anna Grossman, a married mother with two young children living in lower Manhattan. “There's no doubt it does change the dynamic of a marriage.”

Psychologists say that the combination of sleeplessness and new parental responsibilities tend to suck the energy out of maintaining a healthy relationship. Couples often stop communicating or regularly acting affectionate.

Babies weigh on married bliss
A study of 132 couples who had children within eight years of their marriage found:
- 100 percent of couples did not communicate well with their spouse
- 91 percent of women had trouble managing conflict with their husband
- 82 percent of men noticed they were less dedicated to their marriage
- 67 percent of women experienced less confidence in the future of their marriage

Source: Journal of Personality and Social Psychology