The master's thesis comprehensively and in-depth addresses the complexity of relationships during the transition to parenthood and illustrates how changes within the relationship gradually develop. The focus of the thesis lies on partners' experiences through the key stages of transition to parenthood, from the moment of deciding to have a child, through pregnancy and childbirth, to the child's first year of life.
The theoretical part begins with the definition of a relationship, continues with the selection of a partner and the developmental phases of a relationship, and then delves into the process of transitioning into parenthood, where the key stages of transition as well as the common changes and challenges that accompany this period are highlighted. The chapter concludes by illuminating the connection between the discussed content and the field of social work.
This is followed by a presentation of the methodology, which is based on a qualitative approach. The population consists of people in a relationship living in Slovenia who became parents for the first time in the past year (from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025). A convenience sample was used in this study and includes eight participants, that is, four couples: a couple that adopted a child; a couple that broke up; a couple that planned a child and a couple that didn't plan a child. Data were collected through narrative interviews.
Data analysis showed that transition to parenthood often leads to increased strain on the relationship, particularly in the areas of division of responsibilities, leisure time, communication and intimacy. Coping with these challanges is closely linked to the ability of partners to communicate openly, supporting each other and willingness to adapt. The findings indicate that by the end of the child's first year, the relationship usually begins to gradually stabilize as partners start adapting to the new life rhythm, develop routines, gradually establish a balance between parental and partner roles and start to re-establish space for the relationship. The findings further show that the birth of a child reveals and reinforces pre-existing patterns in the relationship. This period exposes how solid the foundations of the relationship were prior to the child's birth and at the same time demonstrates that the quality of the relationship before the transition into parenthood significantly influences the way partners cope with changes. The most important finding is that, in addition to the challenges and risks for the relationship, there are also opportunities for strengthening it, as the transition to parenthood creates opportunities for growth and deepening the relationship.
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