Final answer:
Marital satisfaction tends to decline after the wedding, with the lowest point reached following the birth of the first child. Financial and emotional stress, as well as misalignment of values and goals, contribute to this decline. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is (a) Birth of the first child.
Step-by-step explanation:
Research has shown that marital satisfaction tends to decline after the wedding, and it continues to fall until it reaches its lowest point following the birth of the first child (Popenoe and Whitehead, 2007).
The addition of children to a marriage creates added financial and emotional stress, which can contribute to the decline in marital satisfaction.
Couples with twins or triplets are even more likely to experience a decline in satisfaction and are 17 percent more likely to divorce compared to those with single births (McKay, 2010).
Another contributor to the decline in marital satisfaction over time is a misalignment of values and life goals between spouses as they get older (Popenoe and Whitehead, 2004).
People may find that their priorities and aspirations no longer align with those of their partner, leading to increased dissatisfaction and a higher likelihood of divorce. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is (a) Birth of the first child.