Risk Knowledge and Psychological Distress During Pregnancy Among Primiparous Women of Advanced Age and Their Partners

Abstract

Introduction

First childbirth at advanced maternal age has become a growing public health concern due to its increased risks for maternal–fetal health. The present study aimed to characterize the risk knowledge of primiparous women of advanced age and their partners and to examine interindividual variability on risk knowledge depending on sociodemographic and reproductive characteristics. The study also examined the influence of one partner's risk knowledge on both partners’ psychological distress.

Methods

The present study is part of an ongoing longitudinal project focusing on 2 timings of assessment: the prenatal diagnosis visit (time 1) and the third trimester of pregnancy (time 2). A total of 95 primiparous women of advanced age and their partners were consecutively recruited in a Portuguese referral urban hospital. Participants completed a questionnaire on knowledge of maternal age‐related risks of childbearing at time 1 as well as the Brief Symptom Inventory‐18 at time 2.

Results

Both partners showed incomplete risk knowledge, with the exception of the impact of maternal age on fertility, the probability to request medical help to conceive, and increased risk of Down syndrome. Women's risk knowledge did not vary depending on sociodemographic and reproductive characteristics. Male partners with prior infertility and medically assisted reproduction treatments reported higher risk knowledge. Higher risk knowledge in male partners increased psychological distress during pregnancy in both members of the couples.

Discussion

The findings indicated that first childbirth at advanced maternal age is rarely an informed reproductive decision, emphasizing the need to develop preventive interventions that may enhance couples’ knowledge of maternal age‐related risks. Given the influence of the risk knowledge of male partners on women's psychological distress, antenatal interventions should be couple‐focused. Interventions should inform couples about maternal age‐related risks, enhance their perceived control, and promote effective dyadic communication and coping strategies to address risk.