Does Past Intimate Partner Violence Moderate the Link Between Daily Stress and Conflict During Pregnancy? A Dyadic Daily Diary Investigation

Objective: Intimate partner violence (IPV) can have profound negative effects on family functioning, yet more research is needed to understand the maladaptive daily processes unfolding in couple relationships as a result of past incidents of IPV. This is particularly important during pregnancy-a tim...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychology of violence 2024-07, Vol.14 (4), p.239-249
Main Authors: Grandgenett, Hanna M., Franz, Molly R., Calkins, Frances C., DiLillo, David, Brock, Rebecca L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Conflict
Conflict Resolution
Couples
Family Relations
Female
Human
Intimate Partner Violence
Male
Pregnancy
Stress
Stress Management
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Summary:Objective: Intimate partner violence (IPV) can have profound negative effects on family functioning, yet more research is needed to understand the maladaptive daily processes unfolding in couple relationships as a result of past incidents of IPV. This is particularly important during pregnancy-a time in which couples face heightened stress with the potential to spill over into the relationship. The purpose of this study was to examine whether IPV in the relationship over the past year moderates the link between stress and maladaptive conflict resolution strategies among pregnant couples in everyday life. Method: A sample of 159 pregnant couples completed self-report measures of physical and psychological IPV in their relationship and daily measures of stress and conflict across 14 days. Dynamic structural equation modeling was used to examine whether IPV moderated same- and next-day associations between daily stress and the effectiveness of managing daily disagreements. Results: Higher daily stress was associated with worsened same-day (but not next-day) conflict management. Among women, this link was stronger when there was a history of any physical IPV and more severe psychological IPV in the couple relationship over the past year. Conclusions: Couples with a history of IPV may be particularly vulnerable to the risk of experiencing a maladaptive cycle of daily stress and conflict during pregnancy. Pregnant couples, especially those with a history of couple violence, may benefit from early interventions focused on stress management and effective conflict resolution.
ISSN:2152-0828
2152-081X
DOI:10.1037/vio0000515