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Adult Couples Facing a Planned or an Unplanned Pregnancy

Two Realities

Université de Moncton, bouchage{at}umoncton.ca

This study examined demographic, individual, and relational factors that differentiate adult couples facing an unplanned pregnancy carried to term from those facing a planned pregnancy. One hundred and eighteen couples expecting their first child completed, along with a demographic questionnaire, measures of personality, perceived stress, depression, attachment, and dyadic adjustment during the third trimester of the women’s pregnancy. Results showed that demographic risk factors for unplanned births included age, education level, annual income, length of relationship, and marital status. In addition, high levels of neuroticism, depression, and perceived stress, and low levels of agreeableness and conscientiousness were individual factors associated with unplanned pregnancies among pregnant women. Relational factors associated with unplanned pregnancies included low levels of secure attachment and high levels of anxious-ambivalent and avoidant attachment in men and women. The findings clearly suggest that the psychosocial environment of couples with unplanned pregnancies is problematic.

Key Words: unplanned pregnancy • planned pregnancy • adult couples • first child • risk factors

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This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. Bouchard, J. Boudreau, and R. Hebert Transition to Parenthood and Conjugal Life: Comparisons Between Planned and Unplanned Pregnancies Journal of Family Issues, November 1, 2006; 27(11): 1512 - 1531. [Abstract] [PDF]