title: Partner relationship satisfaction and maternal emotional distress in early pregnancy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recognition of maternal emotional distress during pregnancy and the identification of risk factors for this distress are of considerable clinical- and public health importance. The mental health of the mother is important both for herself, and for the physical and psychological health of her children and the welfare of the family. The first aim of the present study was to identify risk factors for maternal emotional distress during pregnancy with special focus on partner relationship satisfaction. The second aim was to assess interaction effects between relationship satisfaction and the main predictors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pregnant women enrolled in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (n = 51,558) completed a questionnaire with questions about maternal emotional distress, relationship satisfaction, and other risk factors. Associations between 37 predictor variables and emotional distress were estimated by multiple linear regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Relationship dissatisfaction was the strongest predictor of maternal emotional distress (β = 0.25). Other predictors were dissatisfaction at work (β = 0.11), somatic disease (β = 0.11), work related stress (β = 0.10) and maternal alcohol problems in the preceding year (β = 0.09). Relationship satisfaction appeared to buffer the effects of frequent moving, somatic disease, maternal smoking, family income, irregular working hours, dissatisfaction at work, work stress, and mother's sick leave (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dissatisfaction with the partner relationship is a significant predictor of maternal emotional distress in pregnancy. A good partner relationship can have a protective effect against some stressors.
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division of Mental Health, PO Box 4404 Nydalen, N-0403 Oslo, Norway. gbro@fhi.no
authors.forename: Gun-Mette B
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Røsand
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Slinning
authors.forename: Malin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eberhard-Gran
authors.forename: Espen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Røysamb
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tambs
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009664:Norway; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult