Predictors of partner relationships during pregnancy and infancy.
The partner relationship of 153 women hospitalized for a high-risk pregnancy, 75 of their partners, 218 women who experienced a low-risk pregnancy and 147 of their partners was studied to determine risk-status or gender differences at pregnancy, the postpartal hospitalization, 1, 4, and 8 months following birth. A theoretical causal model predicting partner relationships was tested, followed by model respecification to derive the best explanatory model for each group. No differences were observed between low- and high-risk mothers' partner relationship; however, high-risk fathers scored lower than low-risk fathers. Partner relationships for all groups were significantly higher during pregnancy and at birth than at 4 and 8 months after birth. Respecified models explained from 26% to 63% of the variance in partner relationship during pregnancy, and from 31% to 52% at 8 months after birth.
Mercer
R T
RT
Department of Family Health Care Nursing, University of California, San Francisco.
Ferketich
S L
SL
DeJoseph
J F
JF
D000328:Adult; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology*; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000523:psychology*; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000523:psychology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support