Predictor role of marital conflict on maternal competency with mediating role of perceived stress and concerns during pregnancy: A structural equation model

Abstract

Aim Pregnancy prepares the mother for the transition to motherhood. Maternal concerns during pregnancy cause reduced time spent with the spouse and lack of social support; additional stresses such as marital conflicts could impact maternal competency. This study aimed to assess the predictive effect of marital conflicts with the mediating role of perceived stress and pregnancy concern on maternal competency. Methods This was a longitudinal study. It was done on 250 mothers referred to selected health centers in Alborz province. The sampling method was convenient. Marital conflicts, perceived stress, and pregnancy concerns questionnaires were completed in the third trimester of pregnancy, and the maternal competency questionnaire was completed 6 weeks after delivery. Data were analyzed by SPSS software and smart partial least squares. Results The results of structural equations showed that marital conflicts have a negative and significant effect on maternal competency (β = −0.14), marital conflicts have a positive and significant effect on perceived stress (β = 0.42), and marital conflicts have a positive and significant effect on pregnancy concern (β = 0.31). Also, perceived stress negatively and significantly affected maternal competency (β = −0.36). Discussion Results of the study showed the necessities for screening and identifying mothers with conflicts and assessing the perceived stress of mothers will improve the mental health of pregnant mothers and consequently increase maternal competency.

A Mixed Methods Approach to Understand Mother-Father Relationship and Perceived Stress Among Black Pregnant Women

“…Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to examine associations among support and conflict with the FOB and perceived stress. All continuous scale scores were stratified into 3 ranks for analysis as follows: (1) SNAL support subscale scores were low (9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20), moderate (21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32), or high (33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44)(45); (2) SNAL conflict subscale scores were low (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11), moderate (12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)…”

“…Furthermore, the presentation of quantitative data in Table 4 emphasizes the nuanced but distinctive thematic variation among these typologies, which had clearly emerged through the women's words and experiences as displayed in Table 5. (9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20), moderate support (21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32), and high support (33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44)(45). c Low conflict (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11), moderate conflict (12)(13)(14)…”

“…c Low conflict (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11), moderate conflict (12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18), and high conflict (19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25). d Low stress (0-13), moderate stress (14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26), and high stress (27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40).…”

“…Researchers have focused on various domains of the mother-father relationship in relation to perceived stress including marital status, level of involvement and support from the father of the baby (FOB), 8,[19][20][21][22] perceived closeness and quality in the relationship, 20,23,24 maternal satisfaction with the FOB relationship, 20,[25][26][27][28] and level of conflict with the FOB. 19,[29][30][31] Higher levels of perceived stress during pregnancy were associated with the following: single, unpartnered, and divorced marital status 5,8,31 ; lower levels of FOB involvement and support 8,[19][20][21][22] ; motherfather relationships described as "distant" or "poor" 23,24 ; lower levels of marital satisfaction 20,[25][26][27][28] ; and higher levels of FOB conflict. 29,31 Although quantitative research has examined the association of mother-father relationship with perceived stress among pregnant women, 5,8,[19][20][21][22][23][24][25]…”

“…19,[29][30][31] Higher levels of perceived stress during pregnancy were associated with the following: single, unpartnered, and divorced marital status 5,8,31 ; lower levels of FOB involvement and support 8,[19][20][21][22] ; motherfather relationships described as "distant" or "poor" 23,24 ; lower levels of marital satisfaction 20,[25][26][27][28] ; and higher levels of FOB conflict. 29,31 Although quantitative research has examined the association of mother-father relationship with perceived stress among pregnant women, 5,8,[19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31] qualitative research examining Black pregnant women's perception of how the FOB relationship influences stress has been limited. Kinser and Masho 32 found that Black pregnant adolescents (n = 17) shared feelings of worry related to the lack of involvement of the FOB and how they would manage a future raising their baby without him.…”