Sociological Analysis: How Children Strengthen Marital Relationships

This essay explores the sociological perspective on how having children can positively impact marital relationships. It argues that children can bring parents closer together by reducing conflict, providing a shared focus, and fostering a sense of responsibility. The essay references the potential strain on relationships following the death of a child, highlighting the significance of children in maintaining marital stability. It also discusses how couples without children may focus more on their individual problems, while children can alleviate dissatisfaction and stress. Furthermore, the essay suggests that children encourage parents to adopt healthier lifestyles and strengthen their bond through shared experiences. Drawing upon the sociological theory of structural functionalism, the essay concludes that children contribute to the overall unity and functioning of society by reinforcing social relationships within the family unit. Desklib offers a variety of resources for students, including solved assignments and past papers.

Running head: SOCIOLOGY
Sociology
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author note

1SOCIOLOGY
Sociology refers to study of the social relationships along with the institutions. It is
indicative of scientific study of the society and the pattern of the social relationship.
Sociology refers to social science that makes use of different methods of the empirical
investigation along with the critical analysis. Having a baby can have a positive impact on a
relationship and it can help in bringing the parents close together. This essay discusses about
how having the kids can prove to be beneficial for the relationships.
The parents bearing children help in bringing the partners in the marriage close to
each other. Having children makes the parents forget the strife in their relationship and it
reduces the conflict taking place in the relationship. This is evident due to the fact that the
death of a child can bring strain in the relationship in between the parents. This has been
brought out with the help of the statement in the book:
“Often, marriages fall apart after a child’s death. Partners have a hard time thinking and
talking about their suddenly changed lives, with their child missing. The grieving parents
often need help reorganizing the ways they think and talk about themselves and their family
and may have a lower health-related quality of life in the long term” (McDaniel, Susan and
Lorne, pp 169).
In the event of the couples not having children, the partners tend to focus more on
each other and they lay stress on the problems that they have each other. It has been found
that the marital conflicts are reduced when they have someone for whom they can care. The
dissatisfaction that the partners have for each other can be reduced when the couples have
children that can take the gloom away from their lives. The stress that the married couples
feel increases when they do not have any children and this has a negative impact on their
relationship. This is evident with the help of the following lines:

2SOCIOLOGY
“When strains are chronic or traumatic, they are distressing and increase the likeli-hood of
marital conflict. Married people cannot avoid conflicts, whatever their cause, and trying to
avoid disagreements altogether is unwise” (McDaniel, Susan and Lorne, pp 169)
Having children can help in strengthening the bond that exist between the parents and
it can help the parents in getting rid of the bad habits so that they can lead a disciplined life. It
can bring the partners in the right path that can help in bringing the partners close to each
other. A couple would be able to share many happy moments in the event of having a child
that can help in maintaining peace in their lives. A child can give opportunity to the partners
of spending quality time with each other that can reduce the conflict that exists between them.
A child helps the parents in getting a sense of the security and the partners show the positive
aspects of their relationship in front of the child that plays an important role in bringing the
partners close to each other. Having a child means fulfilling additional duties and the partners
learn how to realize their responsibility with the help of the children. It hence proves to be
beneficial for the relationships as the partners can get to know more about each other after
they are blessed with a child. The partners learn the true essence of the responsibilities and it
helps them in becoming more responsible members of the society.
The parents in order to adjust to the new responsibilities adopt the strategy of that of
quiescence that can help in bringing the partners close together. This is evident from the
following lines:
“Many new parents cope (effectively) with the increased stress that accompanies childbirth
by adopting this strategy of quiescence”. (McDaniel, Susan and Lorne, pp 182)
The well-being in the marital relationship can be achieved with the help of the
element of forgiveness. It has been found that the couple who can forgive each other are
happier as compared to the couples who do not have any children. The children involve

3SOCIOLOGY
themselves in wrong acts and this has to be forgiven by the parents. The parents learn the art
of the forgiveness after they have a child and this helps in strengthening the relationship that
exist between the partners.
The partners are aware of the fact that sensitive relationship can help in ensuring that
the babies have a secure attachment with that of their parents. The sociological theory of
structural functionalism states that that the institutions in the society working together can
help in the functioning of the entire society. Structural functionalism perceives the society to
be a complex system that parts of which work together for the promotion of solidarity in the
society. On the basis of this theory, it can be suggested that the bringing of the child into the
life of the parents helps in bringing about unity in the society.
Sociology is indicative of the institutions within the society and that of social
relationships. It refers to scientific study that helps in understanding the pattern of the human
relationships in the society. Parents having children can help partners in building a sound
relationship that proves to be of great benefit for them. Parents can forget strife in
relationship in the event of having baby that can reduce conflict in relationship. The partners
can lay aside their problems if they have a baby and this can help them in developing a strong
bond. Marital conflicts can be reduced when the partners have kids and this help them in their
relationship. Having the children helps the parents in leading a disciplined life and it helps
parents in getting rid of the bad habits. The kids can bring the parents in the right path that
can be beneficial for their relationship.

4SOCIOLOGY
References
McDaniel, Susan A., and Lorne Tepperman. Close relations: an introduction to the sociology
of families. Pearson Education Canada, 2014.