Interconnectedness of parents' relationship functioning and mental health

Few studies have looked at how partners influence each other's mental health, the influence of relationships on mental health, and the influence of mental health on relationships. This may be particularly important across pregnancy and early parenthood, when stress is heightened. Data are from a longitudinal cohort of adolescent females (ages 14-21) and their male partners followed from pregnancy through 1 year postpartum. Structural equation modeling assessed lagged effects across time for depression, stress, and relationship satisfaction. Results showed that males' and females' depression did not significantly relate to their partner's subsequent depression. However, for stress, more female stress during pregnancy predicted increased stress of their male partner at 6-months postpartum (β=.127. p<.05). In addition, higher male relationship satisfaction at 6-months postpartum predicted higher relationship satisfaction of their female partner at 12-months postpartum (β=.122. p<.05). Among males, higher relationship satisfaction predicted subsequent lower depression at 6-months postpartum (β=-.164. p<.05) and 12-months postpartum (β=-.138. p<.05). Whereas for females the opposite effect was found; more depression predicted lower relationship satisfaction 6-months postpartum (β=-.118. p<.05), and 12-months postpartum(β=-.184. p<.05). Results suggest mental health and relationship satisfaction of one member of a couple can influence the other member of the couple. Further, we showed the complicated association between relationship satisfaction and mental health and how it differed by gender. For males, poor relationships influenced mental health; whereas for women mental health influenced relationship satisfaction. There is a need of couple based interventions during pregnancy and parenthood that improve mental health and strengthen relationships.