title: Development and Validation of the Maternal and Partner Sex During Pregnancy Scales.
abstract: Little is known about current attitudes in the United States toward having sex during pregnancy. It is possible that pregnant women and their sexual partners hold beliefs and have feelings during this time that might lead to sexual and relational distress. Two new scales, Maternal Sex During Pregnancy and Partner Sex During Pregnancy, were developed and administered to 112 newly pregnant couples. The scales demonstrated strong reliability and validity. Attitudes and beliefs varied across the sample, but the scores did not significantly differ between partners. These scales allow clinicians to support healthy sexuality during pregnancy by understanding sources of anxiety and possible misconceptions.
authors.affiliation: a School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation , University of Nebraska at Omaha , Omaha , Nebraska , USA.
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jawed-Wessel
authors.affiliation: b Center for Sexual Health Promotion , Indiana University , Bloomington , Indiana , USA.
authors.forename: Debby
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Herbenick
authors.affiliation: c Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research , University of Texas , Houston , Texas , USA.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schick
authors.affiliation: d Section of Adolescent Medicine , Indiana University School of Medicine , Indianapolis , Indiana , USA.
authors.forename: J Dennis
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Fortenberry
authors.affiliation: e Bloomington Area Birth Services , Bloomington , Indiana , USA.
authors.forename: Georg'Ann
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cattelona
authors.affiliation: b Center for Sexual Health Promotion , Indiana University , Bloomington , Indiana , USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reece
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D019529:Sexuality; D055815:Young Adult