Predictors of postpartum coparenting relationship among primiparous couples in Karachi, Pakistan

The postpartum coparenting relationship is an important determinant of parental well-being, relationship functioning, and child development during the transition to parenthood. However, most studies combine mothers' and partner's data, limiting the identification of parent-specific predictors of the postpartum coparenting relationship. This study examined predictors of the postpartum coparenting relationship among primiparous Pakistani couples in Karachi by analyzing mothers' and partners' data separately.

The full study recruited primiparous mothers and their partners through convenience sampling during the first or second trimester from a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. The analysis utilized data from 101 couples who completed questionnaires at 12-weeks postpartum. Couples were assessed for anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, relationship satisfaction, partner support, and coparenting relationship using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale, Postpartum Partner Support Scale, and Coparenting Relationship Scale, respectively, during pregnancy and at 12-weeks postpartum. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were also assessed at 4-6-weeks postpartum. Multivariable regression models were used to examine predictors of postpartum coparenting relationship separately for mothers and partners.

The mean age of mothers was 26.9 years and 30.6 years for partners. Individual regression model suggested that mothers' ethnicity (p < 0.001), partners ethnicity (p < 0.001), mothers' education (p < 0.001), and partner's education (p < 0.001) were individually and significantly associated with mothers' postpartum coparenting relationship at 12-weeks postpartum. In the multivariable regression model, mothers' postpartum coparenting relationship was significantly predicted by her postpartum relationship satisfaction (p = 0.023), postpartum partner support (p < 0.001), and partners' antenatal depressive symptoms (p = 0.016). Similarly, the multivariable regression model showed that partner's postpartum coparenting relationship was predicted by mothers' postpartum coparenting relationship (p = 0.009), partners' antenatal coparenting relationship (p = 0.001), partners' postpartum relationship satisfaction (p = 0.021), and partners' postpartum anxiety at 12-weeks (p = 0.005).

Findings support the view that coparenting is embedded within broader relational and sociocultural systems, where individual well-being, relationship quality, and reciprocal influences shape early postpartum family functioning. Timely screening for anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and coparenting relationship in clinical settings for both parents may facilitate early identification and interventions to strengthen partner support and promote family well-being.