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Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, Vol. 23, No. 5, 781-803 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/0265407506068263
© 2006 SAGE Publications

Couples share similar changes in depressive symptoms and marital satisfaction anticipating the birth of a child

Katariina Salmela-Aro

Kaisa Aunola

University of Jyväskylä

Terhi Saisto

Erja Halmesmäki

University Central Hospital of Helsinki

Jari-Erik Nurmi

University of Jyväskylä

The birth of a child is a demanding family life situation. This longitudinal study investigated to what extent spouses' depressive symptoms and marital dissatisfaction associated with pregnancy and childbirth (and their changes over time) were characteristic of the spousal relationship and/or the individual spouses. Pregnant women (N= 320) and their spouses (N = 259) were examined twice before and twice following childbirth. Results indicated that changes in depressive symptoms and marital satisfaction during pregnancy were characteristic of the spousal relationship, whereas changes after birth were characteristic of both the relationship and the individual spouses. Couples with initially high marital satisfaction reported a later decrease, whereas those with initially low satisfaction reported an increase.

Key Words: depressive symptoms • marital satisfaction • multilevel modeling • transition to parenthood


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