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Chapter 14: Problem 7

Describe how the arrival of children affects a relationship in early adulthood. More than 90 percent of married couples have at least one child, but the size of the average family has decreased, due partly to birth control and partly to the changing roles of women in the workforce. Children bring pressures to any marriage, shifting the focus of the marriage partners, changing their roles, and increasing their responsibilities.

Short Answer

Expert verified
The arrival of children brings changes to a relationship in early adulthood. It introduces pressure as the focus of marriage partners shifts from couples to children. Moreover, this event changes usually the roles of couples as they need to adapt being parents which add up their responsibilities. While the added responsibilities might kid to added stress, it can also bring about a stronger couple partnership due to shared responsibilities.

Step by step solution

01

Analysis and Interpretation

To understand the effects of children's arrival on a relationship, first, dissect the given facts about the decline of family size. This decline is due to birth control and the changing roles of women in the workforce.
02

Discuss the Pressures

Next, analyze how children can introduce pressures into a relationship. This happens because the focal point of marriage partners shifts from each other to their offspring, as they have to provide and care for their children.
03

Role Change

Discuss the changes in roles: couples need to adapt to their new roles as parents. This requires an additional level of responsibility and often leads to a significant change in the relationship dynamics.
04

Discuss the Increase of Responsibilities

Finally, discuss how having a child increases responsibilities, including financial, emotional, and childcare responsibilities. These extra responsibilities might put a strain on the relationship but can also lead to a stronger partnership as it includes shared responsibilities.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Describe the sorts of relationships people enter into in early adulthood and what makes these relationships work or cease to work. In young adulthood, while cohabitation is popular, marriage remains the most attractive option. The median age of first marriage is rising for both men and women. Partners in successful marriages visibly show affection to one another, communicate relatively little negativity, and see themselves as part of an interdependent couple rather than as one of two independent individuals. Divorce is prevalent in the United States, affecting nearly half of all marriages.

Explain why some people choose to remain single in early adulthood. Singlehood is the choice of increasing numbers of people. Those who choose to remain single generally seek independence and wish to avoid the hazards of marriage.

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Compare gay and lesbian parents to heterosexual parents. Gay and lesbian parents have more similarities with heterosexual parents than differences. When gay and lesbian parents have children, they experience changes in their relationships that mirror those in heterosexual couples.

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