Entering parenthood marks a period of major shifts for many couples. Psychological research has yielded conflicting results on how becoming parents affects romantic relationships. Some studies found that becoming parents can strengthen the bond between two people, as they have a shared responsibility in caring for their child. Also, for some couples, not being able to have children together can put a serious strain on the relationship, up to becoming a reason to split up.
Thus, it could be expected that couples that have children together may have more stable relationships compared to those who do not, but that does not always seem to be the case. Specifically, several psychological studies found negative effects of parenthood on the parents’ relationship, as couples with children often report lower relationship satisfaction. This may be due to various stressors related to having a child, such as sleep deprivation, permanent fatigue, financial problems, stress, and conflicts between work and family time. However, such findings are somewhat inconsistent and seem to be significantly influenced by cultural factors.
A brand-new study on parenthood and romantic love in the parents’ relationship
Therefore, a large-scale study on parenthood and its effects on the relationship of the parents that considers data from many different cultures is needed to make reliable conclusions. This is exactly what a new study, published on October 24, 2025, in the scientific journal Human Nature, has now provided (Żelaźniewicz and co-workers, 2025). In the study titled “Is Family Size Related To Love? Data from 25 Countries,” the research team, led by Agnieszka Żelaźniewicz from the University of Wrocław in Poland, analyzed data from more than 3,100 volunteers from 25 different countries (e.g., Australia, India, Romania, Brazil, Belgium, Vietnam, and many others).
