title: Characteristics of primiparous women of advanced age and their partners: a homogenous or heterogenous group?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent studies have reported that primiparous women of advanced maternal age (AMA) appear to constitute a heterogeneous group, emphasizing the need to revise stereotyped views. The aims of this study were the following: 1) to describe the sociodemographic and marital characteristics of Portuguese couples who experienced first childbirth at advanced maternal age (the AMA group) compared with their younger counterparts (the comparison group); 2) to compare the reproductive characteristics of both groups and identify distinct reproductive trajectories within the AMA group; and 3) to distinguish among different subgroups of couples within the AMA group, depending on distinct patterns of sociodemographic, marital, and reproductive characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample consisted of 250 couples. Both partners completed sociodemographic, marital, and reproductive health forms during pregnancy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Despite being more highly educated, having a higher socioeconomic status, and having been employed longer, the AMA group displayed diverse conjugal configurations and reproductive trajectories over time. Within the AMA group, two subgroups were distinguished: couples who experienced infertility problems and couples who did not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Couples who experience first childbirth at AMA constitute a heterogeneous group, which includes distinct subgroups with different psychosocial needs during the transition to parenthood. To revise stereotyped views of these couples, protective social policies should be improved, and health professionals should assume nonjudgmental attitudes and promote informed reproductive decisions. Psychoeducative programs concerning the transition to parenthood should take into account the distinct subgroups of couples who experience first childbirth at AMA.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Maryse
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guedes
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Canavarro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005220:Fathers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008423:Maternal Age; D009035:Mothers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010298:Parity; D011174:Portugal; D011247:Pregnancy; D043762:Reproductive Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: advanced maternal age; marital characteristics; reproductive characteristics; sociodemographic characteristics