Interplay of Sexual Activity and Response with Emotional Responses of Spouses to Pregnancy among Pregnant Mothers Visiting Comprehensive Health Centers

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

1 Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 Iran University of medical Sciences

10.22038/jmrh.2025.86602.2625

Abstract

Background and aim: Women's emotional relationships with their spouses can be influenced by adverse sexual performance during pregnancy. A spouse's supportive behavior toward pregnancy and his emotional responses play a pivotal role in maintaining his pregnant wife’s mental well-being. In other words, a lack of emotional support can result in various complications. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between sexual activity and response with the emotional responses of spouses to pregnancy.
Method: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, cluster sampling was employed to select 265 pregnant women. The inclusion criteria encompassed having an Iranian nationality, being older than 18 years, having literacy, experiencing the first or second natural pregnancy, and undergoing a healthy singleton pregnancy within 16–24 weeks. The Raj Sexual Activity and Response Questionnaire and the Kazemi Emotional Reaction to Pregnancy Questionnaire were used for data collection. ANOVA, paired t-tests, linear regression, and Pearson correlation coefficients were then utilized for data analysis in SPSS Statistics 22.
Results: Before pregnancy, 79.6% of participants showed sexual activity and response at satisfactory to excellent levels. However, this figure declined to 40.4% after pregnancy, with the mean scores of pre-pregnancy sexual activity and response scores being reported as 63.86±19.51, but the mean post-pregnancy scores being reported as 44.88±14.31 (p<0.001). Additionally, the mean emotional response score of the spouse was recorded as 52.35±21.31. There was a positive, significant correlation between sexual activity and response and the spouse’s emotional response (p=0.001, r=0.202).
Conclusion: The findings suggest a correlation between sexual activity and response during pregnancy and the spouse's emotional response. In other words, the spouse's emotional response was positively associated with the mother's sexual activity and response. The results can be used to develop a pregnancy counseling program to establish safe marital environments and relationships, helping women cope with psychological stress.

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Journal of Midwifery and Reproductive Health

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 26 April 2026

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