Stress and anxiety negatively associated with relationship satisfaction and family functioning among low-income overweight or obese pregnant and postpartum women

The study explored whether relationship satisfaction, general family functioning, or communication was associated with stress or anxiety. Participants were low-income overweight or obese pregnant (n = 342) or postpartum (n = 365) women. They completed validated surveys measuring relationship satisfaction, general family functioning, and communication as well as stress and anxiety. Regression analysis to test the objective was performed. Separate analyses were conducted for pregnant and postpartum women. Relationship satisfaction (pregnant, β = -0.40, p < .001; postpartum, β = -0.53, p < .001) and general family functioning (pregnant, β = -0.36, p < .001; postpartum, β = -0.51, p < .001) were negatively associated with stress. Similarity, relationship satisfaction (pregnant, β = -0.24, p < .001; postpartum, β = -0.26, p < .001) and general family functioning (pregnant, β = -0.28, p < .001; postpartum, β = -0.23, p < 0.001) were negatively associated with anxiety. However, communication was not associated with stress or anxiety for either pregnant or postpartum women. Among low-income overweight or obese pregnant and postpartum women, those experienced poor relationship satisfaction and general family functioning tended to report higher levels of stress and anxiety.