Investigating the Lasting Influence of Pregnancy Intendedness on Mothers' and Fathers' Experiences of Destructive Conflict and Intimate Partner Violence

Background and Purpose: Annually, nearly 5% of reproductive-age U.S. women have an unintended pregnancy. Unintended pregnancy can undermine women’s reproductive autonomy and is associated with heightened risk of intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization. Emerging evidence highlights men’s pregnancy intentions as an underexamined factor that critically shapes relationship outcomes. Few studies examine both maternal and paternal pregnancy intentions, and how they may influence risks for interparental conflict and violence, and this especially among couples with low income. Accordingly, this study examines the roles of both maternal and paternal pregnancy intendedness in destructive conflict and IPV, focusing on a sample of racially diverse couples with low income.

Methods: Data came from the Building Strong Families program, comprised of majority Black (61%) and unmarried (94%) heterosexual couples with low income (N = 2,295). Pregnancy intentions were measured at Time 1 (T1; pre-birth) and categorized by wantedness and timing (i.e., “unwanted and mistimed,” “ambivalent on wantedness and timing,” “wanted but mistimed,” “wanted and timed”). IPV was measured at T2 (15 months post-enrollment) and T3 (child age three) using the revised Conflict Tactics Scale. Destructive conflict was measured at T2 and T3 using a 9-item scale developed by program staff (mothers: α = 0.88, fathers: α = 0.87). Associations between pregnancy intentions, IPV, and destructive conflict were analyzed using path modeling with maximum likelihood estimation with 1,000 Monte Carlo integrations. The path model estimated maternal and paternal pregnancy intentions at T1 predicting mothers’ and fathers’ destructive conflict and IPV at T2 and T3.

Results: A higher percentage of fathers (36%) compared to mothers (25%) reported that the pregnancy was both wanted and timed (χ² [1] = 166.11, p < .001). Regarding destructive conflict, mothers’ and fathers’ reports of the pregnancy being unwanted and mistimed at T1 (mothers: b = 0.18, p < .01; fathers: b = 0.14, p < .05) and ambivalence at T1 (mothers: b = 0.14, p < .01; fathers: b = 0.12, p < .01) predicted their own reports of destructive conflict at T2. Fathers’ pregnancy intentions at T1 were not associated with their own reports of destructive conflict at T3. However, mothers’ ambivalence at T1 was associated with their own reports of destructive conflict at T3 (b = 0.11, p < .05). Regarding IPV, fathers’ ambivalence at T1 was associated with higher odds of IPV victimization at T3 (OR = 1.51, p < .05). Mothers’ reports of the pregnancy being unwanted and mistimed at T1 (OR = 2.27, p < .001) and ambivalence at T1 (OR = 1.43, p < .05) was associated with higher odds of IPV victimization at T2.

Conclusions and Implications: Our study highlights how maternal and paternal pregnancy intentions contribute to sustained interparental conflict and violence at least three years following childbirth, particularly when pregnancies are unwanted and mistimed, or parents are uncertain. Creating evidence-based change for fathers (and mothers) with low income necessitates enhanced collaboration with violence-prevention organizations, local agencies, and policymakers to ensure both parents are engaged and supported as key stakeholders in pregnancy planning.