Daily hassles, sacrifices, and relationship quality for pregnant cohabitors

Abstract

We use daily diaries to test how relational sacrifices and hassles are associated with relationship satisfaction in a community sample of pregnant, unmarried, cohabitors (n = 34 individuals, or 17 couples). We found that on days when women reported more hassles than usual, their increased daily sacrifices were associated with declines in relationship quality for their male partners, but not for themselves. We discuss reasons why women's own relationship satisfaction is not affected by making greater relational sacrifices on days characterized by higher hassles, such as the possibility that unmarried pregnant women may retain positive illusions of their relationships given the potential costs of breaking up. The results of the present study are of practical use for clinicians working with unmarried pregnant couples to preserve relationship quality – an especially important goal given potential instability and ambiguity involved in these unions.

Keywords:

• cohabitation
• pregnancy
• hassles
• stress
• sacrifices
• daily diary study

Acknowledgements

This research was supported in part by grants to the second author from the Office for the Vice President for Research Small Grants at the University of Arizona, and the Norton Fathers Endowment and McClelland Institute at the University of Arizona.