Pregnancy and childbirth mark an im

Pregnancy and childbirth mark an important turning
point at which the roles and relationships of couples and
their families are redefined on different levels. While
parenthood can bring joy, it also confronts couple relationships
with new challenges [10, 11]. As pregnancy
may generate changes in physical, emotional, social and
economic needs, it can be a stressful time. This period is
associated with increased demands on individual capacities,
the intimate partner relationship and household
economic resources, and a reduction in leisure time and
opportunities to socialise, which can exert adverse effects
on emotional wellbeing [10]. Individual and dyadic
coping strategies tend to decrease under stress, leading
to an increased risk of physical and psychological aggression
[12–14]. The vulnerable period for IPV associated
with pregnancy extends further than the time between
conception and birth - from a year before conception
until one year after childbirth [4, 12–15].