Marriage on the Path to Motherhood: Silent Indicators of Adjustment During Pregnancy

INTRODUCTION: Aim: The study aims to identify factors influencing marital adjustment in pregnant women to inform supportive interventions that promote family stability and maternal health.


METHODS: Methods: A descriptive research design was used. The study sample consisted of volunteer pregnant women admitted to the Obstetrics and Gynecology outpatient clinics of a hospital in eastern. Sociodemographic Data Form and Near East Marital Adjustment Scale (NEMAS) were used for data collection. The study was completed with 370 pregnant women. The enter method of multiple linear regression analysis was used. Regression/decision tree analysis was performed with CHAID method.
RESULTS: Results: A statistically significant difference was found between all sub-dimensions and total scores of the NFLS according to age, working status, marriage type, number of children, previous stillbirth, gravidity, pregnancy planning status and gestational week (p<0.001). A statistically significant difference was found between the sub-dimensions of Marital Satisfaction (MS), Marital Communication (MC), Marital Empathy (ME) and the total scores of the NEMAS according to educational level and duration of marriage (p<0.001). According to family type, a statistically significant difference was found between the scores of pregnant women in the sub-dimension of Relationships with Families (FR)" (p<0.005)
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Conclusion: Nurses, are in a unique position to assess and monitor marital adjustment as part of routine prenatal care. Integrating marital and emotional well-being into antenatal care not only improves the health of pregnant women, but also contributes to family stability and better outcomes for both mothers and babies.

Keywords: Marital Adjustment, Spousal Adjustment, Pregnancy, Nursing