The Effect of Pregnancy Process on Marital Adjustment And Sexuality

Abstract

Objective: The study aimed to determine the relationship between the sexuality and marital adjustment of pregnant women and their husbands in pregnancy. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 120 pregnant women and their husbands. The data were collected using a participant information form, the Libido Scoring System (LSS) and Marital Adjustment Scale (MAS). Paired-samples t-test, and Spearman’s correlation analysis were used. Results: The mean LSS score in the men was found as 7.76±1.47 before pregnancy and 6.60±3.94 during pregnancy. While the same score was 9.85±1.41 before pregnancy among pregnant women, it decreased to 8.53±1.62 during pregnancy. LSS results proved good levels of sexual desire, and the decrease in the sexual desire levels during pregnancy was statistically significant for the pregnant women and their husbands (p=0.001; p=0.001). A positive relationship was found between the sexual desire levels of the pregnant women before and during pregnancy (p=0.000), and a negative one between their marital adjustment levels before and during pregnancy (p=0.003; p=0.013). The pregnant women were found significant and positive relationship between the marital adjustment levels before and during pregnancy (p=0.000). There was a positive relationship between the sexual desire levels of the husbands before and during pregnancy (p=0.001). Additionally, a strong positive relationship was found between the marital adjustment levels before and during pregnancy in the spouses (p=0.000). Conclusions: The case that the women and their husbands were healthy before pregnancy, in terms of sexual life and marital adjustment, had a positive effect on the pregnancy period.