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].