Association between perceived partner support and lifestyle in mother-father dyads expecting a first child

Vickà Versele, Annick Bogaerts, Roland Devlieger, Christophe Matthys, Leonardo Gucciardo, Tom Deliens, Peter Clarys, Dirk Aerenhouts, Vickà Versele, Annick Bogaerts, Roland Devlieger, Christophe Matthys, Leonardo Gucciardo, Tom Deliens, Peter Clarys, Dirk Aerenhouts

Abstract

Background: A healthy lifestyle during pregnancy is important for the health of mother and child. However, unfavorable physical activity (PA) and dietary changes are observed in pregnant women and their partner. Partner's influence on lifestyle has been reported by expectant women and men. The first aim was to analyze associations between perceived partner support on expectant parents own as well as their partner's moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA (MVPA) levels and dietary intake. Secondly, this study aimed to investigate intra-couple associations of MVPA, dietary intake and perceived support.

Methods: A total of 152 heterosexual couples were recruited between week 8 and 10 of gestation by means of convenience sampling. Objective anthropometric and 7-day MVPA measurements were performed at 12 weeks of gestation. An online questionnaire was used to assess dietary intake, perceived partner support and socio-demographic characteristics. An Actor-Partner Interdependence Model for distinguishable dyads was constructed to examine the relationship between perceived partner support and both own's (i.e., actor-effect) and the partner's (i.e., partner-effect) MVPA levels, intake of fruits and vegetables, and an "avoidance food group."

Results: For pregnant women, perceived support from their partner was significantly associated with women's own MVPA levels (i.e., actor-effect; estimate = 0.344, SE = 0.168, p = 0.040) as well as the MVPA levels of the men (i.e., partner-effect; estimate = 0.717, SE = 0.255, p = 0.005). No significant actor- nor partner-effects were found for the expectant fathers. For none of the sexes significant actor-effects were found for fruit/vegetables and "avoidance food group" intake. For pregnant women, there was a positive partner-effect for fruit and vegetable intake (estimate = 7.822, SE = 1.842, p < 0.001) and a negative partner-effect for the "avoidance food group" intake (estimate = -16.115, SE = 3.629, p < 0.001). Positive correlations were found for perceived MVPA support (r = 0.40, p < 0.001), MVPA levels (r = 0.24, p = 0.007) and food intake from the "avoidance food group" (r = 0.28, p = 0.005) between partners.

Conclusion: This study shows that male partners can act as significant facilitators for women. Partners may be an important target when promoting MVPA during pregnancy. Additionally, supportive couples seem to strengthen each other in keeping a healthy lifestyle in early pregnancy. These results justify couple-based interventions in the promotion of a healthy lifestyle during the transition to parenthood.

Clinical trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov, identifier: NCT03454958.

Keywords: couples; dietary intake; parents; physical activity; pregnancy; social support.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Copyright © 2022 Versele, Bogaerts, Devlieger, Matthys, Gucciardo, Deliens, Clarys and Aerenhouts.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Overview of different steps during data collection. Study location: participating hospitals or participant's home.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Actor-Partner Interdependence Model of the relation between perceived partner support and outcome. Green dashed line, actor-effect; blue dotted line, partner-effect.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Actor-Partner Interdependence Model of the relation between perceived MVPA support and MVPA levels in women and men. Standardized parameter estimates are shown, *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001. Model corrected for family income (between-dyad covariate), BMI and age (within-dyad covariates). Green dashed line, actor-effect; blue dotted line, partner-effect; MVPA, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity; BMI, body mass index.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Actor-Partner Interdependence Model of the relation between perceived eating support and fruit and vegetable intake corrected for total energy intake in women and men. Standardized parameter estimates are shown, ***p < 0.001. Model corrected for family income (between-dyad covariate), BMI and age (within-dyad covariates). Green dashed line, actor-effect; blue dotted line, partner-effect; BMI, body mass index.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Actor-Partner Interdependence Model of the relation between perceived eating support and “avoidance food group” intake corrected for total energy intake in women and men. Standardized parameter estimates are shown, **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001, atrend toward significance p = 0.077. Model corrected for family income (between-dyad covariate), BMI and age (within-dyad covariates). Green dashed line, actor-effect; blue dotted line, partner-effect; BMI, body mass index.

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