Antepartum Anxiety, Dyadic Coping, and Stress Among Chinese Pregnant Couples: The Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediation Model

IF 2.9 3区医学 Q1 NURSING

Journal of Nursing Scholarship Pub Date : 2025-07-15 DOI:10.1111/jnu.70030

Yu Ding, Rong-Rong Han, Yong-fang Deng, Bernice O. C. Lam Nogueira, Ling-Ling Gao

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction

Pregnancy can cause stress for couples, potentially leading to anxiety. However, most studies on antepartum anxiety focus on expectant mothers, ignoring the expectant fathers and the stress transmission between couples. We aim to examine the mediation of dyadic coping between antepartum anxiety and stress in expectant mothers and fathers.

Design

We implemented a cross-sectional study in Guangzhou, China, from October 2023 to January 2024.

Methods

Three-hundred and twenty-nine Chinese pregnant couples completed the Perceived Stress Scale, the Dyadic Coping Inventory, and the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory. The actor-partner interdependence mediation model was used for data analysis.

Results

Expectant mothers experienced antepartum anxiety symptoms at a rate of 42.6%, while the rate for expectant fathers was 32.5%. Regarding the actor effects, stress was positively associated with antepartum anxiety in expectant mothers (β = 0.66, 95% confidence interval CI [0.56, 0.74]) and fathers (β = 0.58, 95% CI [0.42, 0.70]), with dyadic coping acting as a mediator (expectant mothers: β = 0.08, 95% CI [0.03, 0.14]; fathers: β = 0.11, 95% CI [0.04, 0.19]). Regarding the partner effects, maternal dyadic coping was positively associated with paternal stress (β = 0.10, 95% CI [0.01, 0.19]).

Conclusion

The study highlights the interplay of stress, dyadic coping, and antepartum anxiety in expectant mothers and fathers, emphasizing the need to assess their antepartum anxiety and implement couple-centered interventions to enhance their psychological well-being during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Clinical Relevance

This study highlights the importance of assessing antepartum anxiety in both expectant mothers and fathers, emphasizing the mediation of dyadic coping in reducing stress and anxiety. The findings support the integration of couple-centered mental health interventions into routine antepartum care to enhance psychological well-being during pregnancy.

Abstract Image

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中国孕妇产前焦虑、二元应对与压力：行动者-伴侣相互依赖的中介模型。

导读：怀孕会给夫妻带来压力，可能导致焦虑。然而，关于产前焦虑的研究大多集中在准妈妈身上，忽视了准爸爸和夫妻之间的压力传递。本研究旨在探讨准父母产前焦虑与压力之间二元应对的中介作用。设计：我们于2023年10月至2024年1月在中国广州实施了一项横断面研究。方法：对329对中国怀孕夫妇进行应激感知量表、二元应对量表和状态-特质焦虑量表。数据分析采用行动者-伙伴相互依赖中介模型。结果：准妈妈出现产前焦虑症状的比例为42.6%，准爸爸出现产前焦虑症状的比例为32.5%。在行为人效应方面，孕妇（β = 0.66, 95%可信区间CI[0.56, 0.74]）和父亲（β = 0.58, 95% CI[0.42, 0.70]）的压力与产前焦虑呈正相关，而二元应对作为中介(孕妇：β = 0.08, 95% CI [0.03, 0.14]；父亲：β = 0.11, 95% CI[0.04, 0.19])。在伴侣效应方面，母亲的二元应对与父亲的压力呈正相关（β = 0.10, 95% CI[0.01, 0.19]）。结论：本研究强调了压力、二元应对和产前焦虑在准父母中的相互作用，强调有必要评估他们的产前焦虑，并实施以夫妻为中心的干预措施，以提高他们在妊娠前三个月的心理健康。临床意义：本研究强调了评估孕妇和父亲产前焦虑的重要性，强调了二元应对在减轻压力和焦虑中的中介作用。研究结果支持将以夫妻为中心的心理健康干预纳入常规产前护理，以增强怀孕期间的心理健康。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Nursing Scholarship 医学-护理

CiteScore

6.30

自引率

5.90%

发文量

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： This widely read and respected journal features peer-reviewed, thought-provoking articles representing research by some of the world’s leading nurse researchers. Reaching health professionals, faculty and students in 103 countries, the Journal of Nursing Scholarship is focused on health of people throughout the world. It is the official journal of Sigma Theta Tau International and it reflects the society’s dedication to providing the tools necessary to improve nursing care around the world.