Improving Postpartum Marital Relationships

Abstract

The effects of a traditional prenatal education program focused on maternal and infant physical health education were compared with effects of an innovative prenatal program designed to decrease the potentially negative effects of childbirth on the quality of marital relationships. 53 couples participated in the traditional approach and 63 in the innovative program: all expected a first child. Analysis of variance of their scores on the Sexual Relationship Scale and also on the Abbreviated Marital Adjustment Scale administered two months postpartum (controlled for their scores on the 2 scales before the prenatal education program) showed a significant difference between the two groups of parents only with respect to sexual relationship: the couples graduating from the innovative program were more satisfied with sexual aspects of their marriage postpartum.