Couvade Syndrome of Pregnant Women's Spouses

Kang, Kyung Ah; Kim, Shin Jeong; Chang, Eun Young

doi:2003.9.3.256

Korean J Women Health Nurs > Volume 9(3); 2003 > Article

Original Article

Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing 2003;9(3):256-269.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4069/kjwhn.2003.9.3.256

Couvade Syndrome of Pregnant Women's Spouses

Kyung Ah Kang, Shin Jeong Kim, Eun Young Chang

¹Department of Nursing, SamYook University, Korea.
²Department of Nursing, Hallym University, Korea.
³Department of Nursing Science, Ewha Womans University, Korea.

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was intended to investigate the types and seriousness of the couvade syndrome, pregnancy-related physical and psychological symptoms among expectant fathers whose spouses were pregnant. METHOD: The subject was consists of 100 expectant fathers at one hospital in Seoul, Korea. The pregnant women had not been diagnosed any medical complication. Data were analyzed by SPSS/PC program. RESULT: 1) The total mean score was 1.85: the mean score of perceived physical symptoms (1.87) revealed higher than the mean score of psychological symptoms (1.81). 2) With the respect to the general characteristics of subjects, there were statistically significant correlations between subject's level of education and couvade symptoms (r=-.209, p=.037), gestational age and couvade symptoms (r=-.227, p=.023), family total income and couvade symptoms (r=-.198, p=.048), perceived self health status and couvade symptoms (r=-.254, p=.011). 3) With the respect to the general characteristics of subjects, there were statistically significant differences in pregnant woman's age (t=1.363, p=.044),occupation of subject (F=3.594, p= .009), educational level of subject (t=3.506, p=.002), family total income (F=16.822, p= .000), perceived self health status (F=3.151, p=.047).
CONCLUSION
Couvade syndrome is an issue for nurses who perform an important role in the care of pregnant women and their spouses.

Key Words: Pregnant women; Spouse; Couvade syndrome