Answer :
Final answer:
Marital satisfaction is greatly influenced by the quality of one's marriage and can see peaks and valleys throughout the lifecycle, especially upon the arrival of children. C) Longitudinal study is crucial for understanding these dynamics as they change over time, often showing a correlation between decreased marital quality and increased depression.
Explanation:
Marital satisfaction and its relationship with the presence and number of children is a complex topic that has been the subject of extensive research. A large body of evidence suggests overall life satisfaction is closely associated with the quality of one's marriage. This quality often sees fluctuations with notable changes occurring around key life events such as the birth of children. It is generally found that marital happiness peaks before the arrival of the first child and may decline as the demands of parenthood increase, introducing financial strain and additional stress which can impact the marital relationship significantly. The c) longitudinal studies mentioned indicate that as marital quality decreases, symptoms of depression tend to increase. This highlights the importance of maintaining marital satisfaction throughout the life cycle for the overall mental health of individuals.
