relational factors present before the arrival of children does not provide much direction

for couples who have already become parents and does not focus on variables over which

new parents have current control.

 Few studies have looked specifically at the conflict behaviors of couples

transitioning to parenthood. Among the studies that have, these largely have either

focused on problematic interactions, or have set up a dichotomy between constructive

and destructive conflict where constructive conflict was narrowly defined (e.g., Crohan,

1996; Kluwer et al., 1997). Gottman (1994) contended both avoidance and volatility have

been judged in past research as dysfunctional, but that both behaviors can be healthy

approaches to conflict depending on the context and the couple's preferred style of

interaction. Gottman argued each of his regulated couple conflict types has strengths and

weaknesses; knowing how this is demonstrated in division of labor conflicts among new

parents may suggest beneficial strategies for managing conflict and help identify pitfalls

into which each couple conflict type may fall such that those seeking to assist these

couples can help them avoid hazards and capitalize on their strengths. As such, research

which examines a range of functional conflict types seems needed.

 The present study attempted to build upon the strengths of past research while

addressing many of the problems described above. The focus of this study was on the

couple as a unit; wherever possible, partners' individual scores were converted to

produce couple scores, moving the study from an individual to a relational level of

analysis. Couple conflict type comprised the heart of the study, and it was expected the

results would demonstrate several different paths to effective conflict negotiation among

new parents. Lastly, unlike most studies of the transition to parenthood, the present study