For better or for worse the marital adjustments of newlywed couples and early married couples with a child

• Main Authors: Gonzales, Maria Carissa M., Salazar, Darylle Daphne R., Yu, Rachel Faith D.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2011
• Subjects: Adjustment (Psychology); Married people > Psychological aspects; Psychology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/11587
• Institution: De La Salle University

The present study describes the marital adjustments experienced by newlywed and early married couples with a child on the areas of personality characteristics, division of labor, finances and other assets, communication, family interactions (the in-laws), sexual and physical intimacy, and conflict management. It also describes the differences in the marital adjustments experienced by the 2 different groups of couples on those areas. In-depth interviews were conducted to 3 newlywed couples (with an average age of 30.83) and to 3 early married couples with a child (with an average of 33.33). The study is qualitative in nature and content analysis was used to obtain the results. Results show that there are differences in the marital adjustments experienced by the newlywed and early married couples with a child, and these are as follows: (1) personality characteristics – newlywed couples experience doing hobbies/interests of the spouse, adjusting time allotted to personal of the spouse, adjusting time allotted to personal interests and hobbies, and becoming a supportive spouse. On the other hand, early married couples with a child experience prioritizing important things, changing some traits and/or attitudes, fitting in to the spouse's personality/hobbies, being understanding, patient, and selfless, and considering the child in doing their hobbies (2) division of labor newlywed couples experience volunteering in doing households chores while early married couples with a child experience fulfilling assigned task/s including child rearing, and sacrificing for the child (3) finances and other assets early married couples with a child experience managing shared finances including budgeting leisure, self-regulating on spending habits because of the child, and stretching out finances to accommodate child's needs (4) communication early married couples with a child experience maintaining an open communication (5) family interactions (the in-laws) newlywed couples experience gradually working towards a harmonious relationship with in-laws; (6) sexual and physical intimacy –newlywed couples experience learning the spouse’s relationship preferences/needs, and family planning while early married couples with a child experience lessening sexual relationship, and understanding and accepting the situation; (7) conflict management – newlywed couples experience conflicts in family interactions and sexual and physical intimacy. They resolve conflicts immediately, and give and ask child resolve conflicts by balancing the needs of the spouse and the child, and maintaining for the child’s welfare.