Transition to Parenthood and Susceptibility to Divorce: qualitative research of divorced young parents in Slovenia

Authors

  • Nataša Rijavec Klobučar University of Ljubljana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15633/pch.1663

Keywords:

Transition to parenthood, changes at the birth of a child, disintegration of marriage, divorce, risk factors

Abstract

Transition to parenthood is a vulnerable period for spouses and can consequently lead to the disintegration of their relationship. The purpose of this research was to examine the experience of this transition, circumstances and risk factors for divorce from the perspective of divorcees in Slovenia who divorced in the first year of their child’s life. On the basis of semi­‑structured interviews with 15 divorcees, the findings of studies examining changes after the birth of a child were confirmed. The results pointed to risk factors for marriage, such as uncertain relationship between spouses prior to the childbirth, permeable boundaries in relations with families of origin, lack of practical and emotional support, and unreal expectations. The child’s arrival accentuates unsolved issues from the past and brings additional vulnerability to the relationship. The findings of this research are a contribution to the development of preventive, educative and therapeutic programmes for couples in transition to parenthood.

References

Belsky, J. The transition to parenthood. How a first child changes marriage, New York, Delacorte Press 1994.

Clarke­‑Stewart, A., Brentano, C. Divorce: Causes and consequences, New Haven CT, Yale University Press 2006.

Cowan P. A., Cowan, C. A, When partners become parents: The big life change for couples, New York, Basic Books 2000.

Feeney J. A., Hohaus L., Noller P., .Alexander R. P., Becoming parents: Exploring the bonds between mothers, fathers and their infants, New York, Cambridge University Press 2001.

Nazarinia Roy R., Schumm W. R., Britt, S. L., Transition to parenthood, New York, NY, Springer Science + Business Media 2014.

Nilsen A., Brannen J., Lewis S., Transitions to parenthood in Europe: A comparative life course perspective, Univesity of Bristol, Policy Press 2012.

Wolfinger, N., Understanding the divorce cycle: The children of divorce in their own marriages, New York, Cambridge University 2005.

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Published

2016-03-31

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 1 (2016)

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2016 Nataša Rijavec Klobučar

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