Scientific Studies on the Hardest Relationship Periods
The Transition to Parenthood
The transition to parenthood stands out as the most consistently documented difficult relationship period. A 2022 meta-analysis of 49 empirical studies found that marital satisfaction drops moderately between pregnancy and 12 months postpartum, and declines slightly further between 12 and 24 months for both partners. Parent couples experience a significantly steeper decline in satisfaction compared to non-parent couples from the prenatal stage through the first year after birth.
Families with Young Children and Teenagers
Families raising young children or teenagers face ongoing relationship challenges. Research using structural equation modelling identified these two family stages as significant negative predictors of marital satisfaction, explaining a large share of variability in long-term relationship outcomes. When children reach adolescence, conflict intensity often increases—making this a critical period for marriages at midlife.
Early Marriage Years
The early years of marriage are statistically the highest-risk period for divorce. Studies show that divorce likelihood peaks in the first few years before stabilising later. People who marry in their teens are two to three times more likely to divorce than those who marry in their twenties or later.
Midlife Transitions
Midlife transitions introduce unique pressures. Longitudinal studies tracking couples over 15 years reveal that marital satisfaction reaches its lowest point when partners have teenage children during their 40s or 50s. This period often overlaps with career plateauing, reassessment of life meaning, and caring for ageing parents—all contributing to emotional and relational strain.
Contradictory Findings on Later Life
The Empty Nest period produces mixed results. Some long-term studies find that women experience significant increases in marital satisfaction once children leave home, though life satisfaction may remain unchanged. Eighteen-year longitudinal data show that women with empty nests report higher marital satisfaction than those still parenting at home, suggesting the transition can renew partnership focus for some couples.
Key Research Insights
Recent longitudinal research using latent class growth analysis challenges earlier assumptions. It shows that 67.6% of couples experience little or no change in marital satisfaction over time. Declines tend to occur primarily among couples undergoing major life transitions—such as becoming new parents—or those who entered marriage with already lower satisfaction levels.
Overall, the evidence indicates that major life transitions—particularly childbirth, parenting through adolescence, and navigating midlife adjustments—are the periods when relationships face the greatest strain.
