Sexual relationship power, intimate partner violence and dyadic adjustment during pregnancy and affecting factors

Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate issues such as sexual relationship power, intimate partner violence and dyadic adjustment during pregnancy and affecting factors. Methods: The study data were collected by administering the Pregnant Women Information Form, Sexual Relationship Power Scale (SRPS), Intimate Partner Violence Attitude Scale (IPVAS)—Revised and Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS). Results: The mean scores the participating pregnant women obtained from the overall SRPS, IPVAS - Revised and RDAS were 3.06 ± 0.48, 49.03 ± 12.03 and 54.49 ± 8.17, respectively. While sexual relationship power was positively correlated with dyadic adjustment, intimate partner violence was negatively associated with dyadic adjustment. Factors influencing SRPS scores were education level, employment status, husband’s alcohol use, and exposure to physical violence. Factors affecting dyadic adjustment were husband’s education level, occupation, pregnancy trimester, number of pregnancies, sexual relationship power, and intimate partner violence attitudes. Conclusion: While the husbands’ characteristics such as education and profession affected the dyadic adjustment, the pregnant women’s attitudes towards dominance in sexual life and violence in the intimate relationships were the predictors of the dyadic adjustment. Based on these findings, interventions aimed at increasing women’s sexual relationship power and reducing intimate partner violence during pregnancy may support dyadic adjustment.