A Longitudinal Investigation of Couples' Sexual Growth and Destiny Beliefs in the Transition to Parenthood

Meghan A Rossi; Emily A Impett; Samantha J Dawson; Sarah Vannier; James Kim; Natalie O Rosen

doi:10.1007/s10508-021-02267-3

A Longitudinal Investigation of Couples' Sexual Growth and Destiny Beliefs in the Transition to Parenthood

Arch Sex Behav. 2022 Apr;51(3):1559-1575. doi: 10.1007/s10508-021-02267-3. Epub 2022 Feb 18.

Authors

Meghan A Rossi¹, Emily A Impett², Samantha J Dawson³, Sarah Vannier⁴, James Kim⁵, Natalie O Rosen^{6

7}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, 1355 Oxford Street, Halifax, NS, B3H 4J1, Canada.
² Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada.
³ Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
⁴ Department of Psychology, St. Thomas University, Fredericton, NB, Canada.
⁵ Department of Psychology, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
⁶ Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, 1355 Oxford Street, Halifax, NS, B3H 4J1, Canada. natalie.rosen@dal.ca.
⁷ Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS, Canada. natalie.rosen@dal.ca.

PMID: 35182284
DOI: 10.1007/s10508-021-02267-3

Abstract

Beliefs about sexuality tend to become more salient during sexual challenges and are associated with how individuals respond to these difficulties and, in turn, their sexual well-being. The transition to parenthood is marked by significant changes to couples' sexuality. As such, this period of vulnerability may be an important context in which these beliefs impact how couples manage sexual stressors and may have implications for their sexual well-being. In a longitudinal dyadic study, we examined whether couples' sexual growth beliefs (e.g., beliefs that sexual problems can be resolved through effort) and sexual destiny beliefs (e.g., beliefs that sexual problems reflect incompatibility with their partner) correspond with changes to various facets of couples' sexual well-being over time. First-time parent couples (N = 203) completed online surveys assessing these beliefs in pregnancy (32 weeks) and measures of sexual well-being (satisfaction, desire, and distress) in pregnancy (20 and 32 weeks) and across the postpartum period (3, 6, 9, 12 months). Dyadic latent growth curve models showed that expectant mothers who reported stronger sexual destiny beliefs in pregnancy reported higher sexual distress and lower sexual satisfaction at 3 months postpartum. When partners reported stronger sexual destiny beliefs in pregnancy, both they and new mothers reported greater sexual desire at 3 months postpartum. Unexpectedly, partners' higher sexual growth beliefs in pregnancy predicted mothers' lower sexual desire at 3 months postpartum. Sexual growth and destiny beliefs were not associated with change in couples' sexual well-being beyond 3 months postpartum. Findings shed light on the potential benefits and costs of sexual growth and destiny beliefs for couples' sexual well-being early in the postpartum period, but not over time.

Keywords: Sexual desire; Sexual distress; Sexual growth and destiny beliefs; Sexual satisfaction; Sexual well-being; Transition to parenthood.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Female
Humans
Libido
Orgasm
Postpartum Period
Pregnancy
Sexual Behavior*
Sexual Partners*