What's Love Got to Do with It

Relationship Functioning and Mental and Physical Quality of Life Among Pregnant Adolescent Couples

Bibliographic Data

ID11054961
AuthorsT Kershaw (0000-0002-3300-1355, Yale University, corresponding author), Alexandrea Murphy (Yale School of Public Health Room 415, 60 College 06510 New Haven CT USA), Anna Divney (0000-0002-4022-5381, Department of Public Health City University of New York New York NY USA), Urania Magriples (0000-0002-9619-0165, Department of Neonatal and Fetal Medicine Yale School of Medicine New Haven CT USA), Linda Niccolai (Yale School of Public Health Room 415, 60 College 06510 New Haven CT USA), Linda M Niccolai (0000-0003-2969-3157, Yale University), Derrick M Gordon (0000-0002-8802-647X, Yale University), Derrick Gordon (Yale Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS New Haven CT USA)
Year2013
Volume52
Issue3-4
Pages288-301
Publication date2013-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Community Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0091-0562 • E-ISSN: 1573-2770
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1007/s10464-013-9594-2
PMID24091562
PMCIDPMC3995023
OpenAlexW2017577177
LanguageEN
Citations received15
References cited60

The study objective was to describe relationship adjustment and its association with mental and physical quality of life for young couples expecting a baby. 296 young pregnant couples recruited from urban obstetric clinics reported on relationship strengths (e.g., equity, romantic love, and attractiveness), relationship risks (e.g., attachment, intimate partner violence), external family support, relationship adjustment, and mental and physical quality of life. Using the Actor Partner Interdependence Model we assessed both actor and partner effects of relationship variables on relationship adjustment and quality of life. Sixty‐one percent of couples had at least one member with moderate or severe relationship distress. Lower attachment avoidance, lower attachment anxiety, higher relationship equity, lack of intimate partner violence, feelings of love, perceived partner attractiveness, and family support of the relationship related to better relationship adjustment. Associations were fairly consistent across gender. Better relationship adjustment related to more positive mental and physical quality of life for both young women and men. Our results highlight the potential importance of strong relationships on the well‐being of expecting parents. Our results suggest that secure attachments, equitable relationships, feelings of love, and a lack of violence may be particularly important in having strong relationships and improved mental and physical health during pregnancy

Anxiety · Attractiveness · Developmental psychology · Domestic violence · Feeling · Health psychology · Interpersonal relationship · Mental health · Partner effects · Physical attractiveness · Poison control · Psychiatry · Psychotherapist · Public health · Quality of life (healthcare) · Suicide prevention · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Clinical Psychology · Family Dynamics and Relationships · Intimate Partner and Family Violence · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology

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