Congruence of the Marital Relationship During Transition to Parenthood: A Study with Couples Who Conceived Spontaneously or Through Assisted Reproductive Technologies

Sofia Gameiro, Mariana Moura-Ramos, Maria Cristina Canavarro, Teresa Almeida Santos, Frank M. Dattilio

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In this study we examined the congruence between partners' perceptions of their marital relationship during the transition to parenthood and the effect of depression during pregnancy on couples' congruence during the early postpartum period. Thirty-one couples who conceived spontaneously, along with thirty-five who conceived through assisted reproductive technologies (ART), provided data on their marital relationship and depression at their 24th pregnancy week and four months after the partum. All couples reported a decrease in marital congruence. Couples who conceived through ART reported lower marital congruence. For these subjects, women's depression was associated with lower congruence. Interventions that focus on strengthening the marital relationship across the transition to parenthood should assess and promote couples' congruence.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)91-106
Number of pages16
JournalContemporary Family Therapy
Volume33
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Assisted reproductive technologies
  • Depression
  • Infertility
  • Marital congruence
  • Transition to parenthood

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