Cohn, 1991). Research on men's transition to parenthood has been limited, but the data

available indicate men also face individual challenges as they transition to parenthood.

Men seem to experience more strain while their partners are pregnant, and experience

increased well-being after their children are born (Condon, Boyce, & Corkindale, 2004).

Some fathers experience dysphoria in the early months of new parenthood, but the impact

of this disappears by the end of the child's first year (Pedersen, Zaslow, Cain, Suwalsky,

& Rabinovich, 1987). New fathers also become more involved (psychologically and in

terms of actual time spent) in their work outside the home (Condon et al., 2004; Cowan &

Cowan, 2000).

 Relationship changes seem to have the most far-reaching effects for the couple, the

individual partners, and their child. One of the most consistently documented changes

associated with the transition to parenthood is a small but significant drop in marital

satisfaction (Twenge et al., 2003). Couples also report a "declining salience" (Hackel &

Ruble, 1992, p. 955) of their relationship (Cowan & Cowan, 2000). Yet women tend to

become more dependent (financially and emotionally) on their partners after having a

child (Fox, 2001). Couples also develop more "traditional" gender-stereotyped family

roles and divisions of labor than either partner had expected (P. Cowan & Cowan, 2003;

Crohan, 1996; Hackel & Ruble, 1992; Ruble et al., 1988; Steil, 1997; Thompson &

Walker, 1989; Walzer, 1996). These processes in the couple's partnership have been

linked to strain for both men and women (Cowan et al., 1985; Hackel & Ruble, 1992;

Ruble et al., 1988). Children may also be affected if their parents have fewer personal

resources for their care, and if they are subject to spillover-effects from parental conflict