Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, University of Toronto Mississauga, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Ann Behav Med. 2021 Aug 23;55(9):879-891. doi: 10.1093/abm/kaaa117.
The transition to parenthood is associated with changes to new parents' mood and sexual health. Sexual dysfunction-problems with sexual function accompanied by sexual distress (i.e., worries and concerns about one's sex life)-is linked to poorer overall health, yet few studies have examined how sexual dysfunction unfolds for couples during this transition. Postpartum depression is a risk factor for sexual dysfunction; however, the association between depressive symptoms and how postpartum sexual dysfunction evolves has not been examined.
To establish trajectories of sexual function and sexual distress for mothers and partners and to examine if postpartum depressive symptoms were associated with these trajectories.
Data were collected from 203 first-time parent couples from midpregnancy until 12-months postpartum. Sexual function and sexual distress were assessed at six time points (two prenatal) and depressive symptoms were assessed at 3-months postpartum.
Dyadic latent piece-wise growth curve models revealed significant declines in mothers' and partners' sexual function between pregnancy and 3-months postpartum and significant improvements from 3- to 12-months postpartum. Mothers' sexual distress increased between pregnancy and 3-months postpartum and decreased thereafter, whereas partner's sexual distress remained stable. Depressive symptoms were associated with poorer sexual function and higher sexual distress at 3-months postpartum for both partners but did not predict change over time.
Mothers and their partners experience changes to their sexual function during the transition to parenthood; however, mothers are at greater risk of sexual dysfunction. Depressive symptoms are a risk factor for poorer sexual health at 3-months postpartum for both parents.
为人父母的转变与新父母的情绪和性健康变化有关。性功能障碍——性功能问题伴随着性困扰（即对性生活的担忧和关注）——与整体健康状况较差有关，但很少有研究探讨在这一转变过程中夫妻的性功能障碍是如何发展的。产后抑郁症是性功能障碍的一个风险因素；然而，抑郁症状与产后性功能障碍的发展之间的关联尚未得到研究。
确定母亲和伴侣的性功能和性困扰轨迹，并研究产后抑郁症状是否与这些轨迹有关。
从 203 对首次生育的夫妇中收集数据，从中孕期到产后 12 个月。性功能和性困扰在六个时间点（两个产前）进行评估，抑郁症状在产后 3 个月进行评估。
对偶潜在分段增长曲线模型显示，母亲和伴侣的性功能在妊娠和产后 3 个月之间显著下降，在产后 3 至 12 个月之间显著改善。母亲的性困扰在妊娠和产后 3 个月之间增加，此后减少，而伴侣的性困扰保持稳定。抑郁症状与产后 3 个月时双方的性功能较差和性困扰较高有关，但不能预测随时间的变化。
母亲和她们的伴侣在为人父母的转变过程中经历了性功能的变化；然而，母亲更有可能出现性功能障碍。抑郁症状是父母双方产后 3 个月时性健康状况较差的一个风险因素。
