While some new moms experience decreases in relationship satisfaction during the transition to motherhood, others remain stable or even improve. New research shows that the length of the relationship may act as a buffer against the new stress that a newborn brings.

So much to do, so little time. When multiple priorities collide, it is often difficult to find the right balance between work and family life. In the nationally representative survey of Household Income and Labor Dynamics in Australia (HILDA), researchers discovered more about factors that influenced work-life balance.

A lot of research points to the idea that having a child will inevitably take a toll on your marriage. But the questions remain: Are changes in satisfaction a direct result of having a child? Are there other factors to consider besides the birth of a child in explaining satisfaction declines? Find out these answers and more.

Staying in a bad relationship isn’t good for anyone. From the standpoint of promoting family cohesion as a panacea for child welfare, there is pretty compelling evidence that it’s the emotional content of a relationship that matters, not the label that can be applied to it.

The quantity and quality of studies that report a link between stress and poor health is such that it seems to be a definitive finding at this point. However, there is a relatively new study that suggests that stress not only has a negative impact on the person experiencing the stress, it could also have negative effects on the person’s children.

There are many reasons to stay in a relationship, because you love the other person, because you promised, because you are financially dependent on one another, or because of the kids. But what if the love faded, would you leave? Feeling constrained in your relationship may lead you to engage in fewer negative behaviors with your partner. Read more about this complex relationship.

Do old dogs learn new tricks? Can husbands learn how to clean the house, spend meaningful time with the kids, and do their own laundry? I say it would take a miracle, but sociology says change is already underway.

Scientists have long known what your grandchildren-wanting parents and in-laws don’t want to tell you: Having children is hard on your marriage. However, scientists may now have discovered a corollary to this rule that could either help you be the exception, or perhaps warn that you’re likely to suffer this fate so you can prepare accordingly.

The role of women in the workplace is such that most businesses would cease to operate without their contributions. And balancing work life with the needs of child-rearing has also been a fact of life for both men and women. However, researchers from the University of Calgary have recently reported that the relationship between gender, parental status and work productivity is rather complex.

As people become more transient, maximizing educational and career opportunities, many speculate on the decline of extended family ties. Thomas Pollet and Robin Dunbar argue that while family ties may be more difficult to detect in modern society they continue to function in ways that provide needed instrumental support for the younger generations.

For many different reasons, men and women have chosen to forego being a parent.

John Helliwell is quoted as saying: “People tend to overestimate the amount of satisfaction they will get from material things and underestimate the satisfaction they derive from human connections. That’s one reason so many people choose a work environment that ends up making them miserable.” Is this why I don’t need an iPhone?

Parents worry about the well being of their children, no matter how old they are. And children worry about their parents, especially as parents get older and health conditions arise. Find out how worrying might benefit your relationship.

According to recent research from Yale University, infants can distinguish between helpful and hurtful behavior. Not even experiencing it themselves but by just watching it.