Daily Conflict and Relationship Satisfaction in Couples of New Parents: The Moderating Roles of Romantic Attachment and Intimacy

Abstract

During the transition to parenthood, parents face challenges, such as new roles, responsibilities, and less couple time. This often increases conflict, which may in turn reduce relationship satisfaction. Yet it remains unclear whether certain factors modulate these associations. In this dyadic daily diary study with 196 first-time parent couples, we examined the moderating roles of romantic attachment (anxiety, avoidance) and intimacy in the links between conflict and relationship satisfaction for each partner. Participants completed online diaries for 14 days at 4-month postpartum. Results from multilevel modeling following the actor-partner interdependence model showed that greater conflict was associated with lower relationship satisfaction (daily and across 14 days) in both partners. They also suggest that mothers' higher attachment anxiety amplified the harmful effects of conflict on relationship satisfaction at the actor level, along with higher attachment anxiety and avoidance at the partner level, whereas intimacy protected against them. Clinical implications are discussed.