Marital status, duration of cohabitation, and psychosocial well-being among childbearing women: A canadian nationwide survey

M.L. Urquia, P.J. O'Campo and J.G. Ray

American Journal of Public Health, 2013, vol. 103, issue 2, e8-e15

Abstract: Objectives. We examined the joint associations of marital status and duration of cohabitation on self-reported intimate partner violence, substance use, and postpartum depression among childbearing women. Methods. We analyzed data from the 2006-2007 Canadian Maternity Experiences Survey, a cross-sectional nationwide sample of 6421 childbearing women. Cohabiting women were married or nonmarried women living with a partner; noncohabiters were single, divorced, or separated women. We further categorized cohabiters by their duration of cohabitation (≥ 2, 3-5, or > 5 years). We used logistic regression to generate adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Results. About 92% of women were cohabiters. Compared with married women living with a husband more than 5 years, unmarried women cohabiting for 2 years or less were at higher odds of intimate partner violence (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 4.64; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.85, 7.56), substance use (AOR = 5.36; 95% CI = 3.06, 9.39), and postpartum depression (AOR = 1.87; 95% CI = 1.25, 2.80); these risk estimates declined with duration of cohabitation. Conclusions. Research on maternal and child health would benefit from distinguishing between married and unmarried cohabiting women, and their duration of cohabitation. Copyright © 2012 by the American Public Health Association®.

Keywords: addiction; adolescent; adult; article; Canada; cross-sectional study; female; human; marriage; partner violence; pregnancy; prevalence; psychological aspect; puerperal depression; sexuality; statistical model; statistics; time, Adolescent; Adult; Canada; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression, Postpartum; Female; Humans; Logistic Models; Marital Status; Pregnancy; Prevalence; Sexual Partners; Spouse Abuse; Substance-Related Disorders; Time Factors; Young Adult (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2012.301116_6

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2012.301116

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