The factor structure of prenatal psychological and psychosocial functioning in first-time expectant parents

Abstract

To evaluate the psychological and psychosocial functioning of couples undergoing their first pregnancy, 327 couples from Melbourne, Victoria completed measures of depression, anger, anxiety, positive and negative affect, current social support, perceived quality of couple's relationship, and recalled childhood family relationships during the early third trimester of pregnancy. To examine the nature of the pregnant couples' experience of pregnancy, an exploratory factor analysis was conducted separately for males and females. Four similar but not identical clusters were identified for both the men and women. The first large general factor for both sexes was concerned with psychological dyspho..