The transition to parenthood represents a major life event for expectant parents, influencing personal and relational well-being. Unfortunately, the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may undermine first-time expectant mothers' emotional health as elevated rates of depression, stress, and anxiety have been noted (Rajkumar, 2020). Thus, the current study was conducted to (a) describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on first-time expectant mothers' pregnancy, prenatal care, internal/ dyadic and external experiences, (b) investigate the impact of pregnancy-related, internal/ dyadic, and external COVID-19 changes on first-time mothers' mental health (i.e., depression, stress, and anxiety symptoms), and (c) explore whether COVID-related internal/dyadic stressors predicted worse mental health among expectant mothers, above and beyond their general marital satisfaction. Forty-nine first-time, expectant U.S. mothers (M age = 29.0 years, SD = 3.1) participated via Amazon MTurk between June and July 2020; each completed an online survey about their pandemic prenatal care, delivery plans, current mental health, and relationship. Most expectant mothers (82%) reported distress due to COVID-related prenatal care changes. Additionally, pandemic-related increases in alcohol use, intimate partner violence, and external demands (i.e., caring for someone infected with COVID-19), generally predicted worse mental health for first-time expectant mothers. The effects of increased alcohol use and intimate partner violence on maternal mental health remained, even after accounting for overall marital satisfaction. Conversely, having to isolate or quarantine due to exposure predicted reduced maternal stress. Results underscore the need to provide supports that promote the emotional health of first-time pregnant women and encourage healthy coping with the diverse pandemic-related experiences faced by expectant couples.

Cyber psychological abuse and social media surveillance of ex-partners are relatively common virtual forms of behavior linked with intimate partner violence (Pineda, Galán, Martínez-Martínez, Campagne, & Piqueras, 2021) as well as on-going and dangerous intimate partner stalking (Logan & Langhinrichsen-Rohling, 2021). While both forms of behavior are concerning, especially after the dissolution of a romantic relationship, transdiagnostic shared and unique predictors of each are relatively unknown. In the current study, we examined the associations between intolerance of uncertainty and emotion dysregulation and the perpetration of post-breakup cyber psychological abuse and social media surveillance. We asked college students (n = 284) to report on their intolerance of uncertainty, emotion dysregulation difficulties (particularly difficulties engaging in goal directed behavior, impulse control difficulties, and lack of emotional clarity), and behaviors towards their ex-partner associated with the perpetration of cyber psychological abuse and social media surveillance. Participants reported engaging in an average of 2.4 (SD = 2.17) post-breakup behaviors associated with cyber psychological abuse and 4.47 (SD = 3.60) different acts of social media surveillance. Mediation models supported the premise that intolerance of uncertainty is predictive of emotion dysregulation, which, in turn, mediated the association between intolerance of uncertainty and both cyber psychological abuse and social media surveillance. Subscale analyses specifically highlighted difficulties engaging in goal-directed behavior as an important mediator of both behaviors. Taken together, this suggests that intolerance of uncertainty and poor emotion regulation after a relationship breakup are potential drivers of unhealthy ex-partner focused behaviors on social media and other electronic mediums of communication.

Technology-facilitated intimate partner violence (T-IPV), including social media surveillance (SMS) and cyber dating abuse (CDA), are increasingly common post-breakup experiences among college students. Although a large body of research has focused on identifying risk factors for both types of T-IPV, perpetrators of T-IPV may differ in their pattern of risk factors. Using the I3 model as a guiding framework, the current study sought to identify typologies of college students engaging in post-breakup SMS and CDA. Specifically, 710 college students’ responses on self-report measures were examined for similarities in known risk factors, namely attachment anxiety, impulse control difficulties, lack of emotion regulation strategies, intolerance of uncertainty, distress tolerance, and problematic alcohol use. Three distinct perpetrator profiles emerged with attachment anxiety, alcohol use, and intolerance of uncertainty presenting as distinguishing features. Problematic alcohol use was evident in the moderate and high levels of SMS and CDA perpetration profiles. Contrary to what was expected, there appeared to be little variability in emotional regulation and impulse control abilities across the three profiles such that individuals belonging to low and high perpetration profiles did not differ in the degree to which they were able to control their impulses or access emotion regulation strategies. Results highlight the potential importance of tailoring interventions, while reducing transdiagnostic risk factors, to account for the heterogeneity in risk factors among T-IPV perpetrators.

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