fluffy-r 'u’" -;;:.‘u:'7.:.i M.‘§;_’“r‘ l: :m ATTITUDES AND EXPERIENCES OF PREGNANCY or STUDENTS: WIVES .- AT MICHIGAN STATE COLLEGE Thesis for the Degree of M. A. M§CHIGAN STATE COLLEGE Shirley Briggs Paffenfmrger 1949 .., - '1 ‘ . r?“ :‘v\)_‘ 25*," t I ' I H5513 This is to certilg that the thesis entitled Attitudes and experiences of Iregnancy of students Hives at Iichigan State JOLlege presented hg Jhirley Briggs foffenberger has been accepted towards fulfillment of the requirements for Easter of Arts degree in Sociology and Anthropology Major professor ' l)ate 0-169 —— 0—”J .. _.____-—__-. . ‘ . . . I . . . . . . t. lothlnldutfliol I f‘l‘fil..§ .. .. t ‘1. ' ‘6 . 1.. N u . I I. ,. ll) . - . . . . . t t . V r g . r .. .y‘\.\|., \ht‘uozvu ... 12. 1. Ar...‘ .D‘Iu . ”wif‘rr 1.3:?! ...M..»Powc|h‘. 1!". l . '0‘ \ V .r l n r. y l .t l . < . . t ATTITUDES AND EXPERIENCES OF PREGNANCY OF STUDENTS WIVES AT MICHIGAN STATE COLLEGE By SHIRLEY BRIGGS POFFENBERGER A THESIS Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies of Michigan State College of Agriculture and Applied Science in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS Department of Sociology and AnthrOpology 1949 WHESIS Preface The author is indebted to many persons for their valuable suggestions and guidance in the planning of this study. Dr. Judson T. Landis was responsible for the initial plan of the research and gave of his time generously in the development of the questionnaire and the plans for the study. Mrs. Mary G. Landis also . mademmy excellent suggestions and helped in the re- visions of the questionnaire which has used. Dr. Charles R. Hoffer read the entire manuscript in the absence of Dr. Landis, and gave immeasurable help with his criticisms and suggestions. Dr. Duane L. Gibson devoted many hours of his time in consultation regarding the statistical treatment of the material as well as the general method of analysis and presentation of the data. Dr. Asael T. Hansen was hind enough to review the proposed questions for the questionnaire and make valu- able suggestions about the letter of introduction to the couples in the sample. Miss Esther Anson was most helpful, as she supplied the names and addresses of the couples who participated in the study. 11 {\rfi‘r‘; -\ r1. 1- .A .' 'c.£~- " r...:;’.. '“3 Finally, the actual collection of the data would have been impossible without the assistance of my hus- band, Thomas Millard Poffenberger, who acted as re- search associate treating another aspect1 of the study. Deep gratitude is expressed to the 212 couples whose fine response made possible the present evaluation of the pregnancy experience as it occurred in college marriages. l. Poffenberger, Thomas M., Marital Adjustment .2; 212 Student Couples 33 the Pregnancy Experience, Unpublished Master's thesis, Michigan State College, 1949. .. 111 fi'llllilllll‘lll"l‘illlglllll! Table of Contents PrefaCGOOOOOOOOOO0.00.00.......OOOOCOOOOOOOOOO Chapter I. IntrOductionOQOOOOOOOO.......OOOOOOOOOOOC II. I'qethOdOlObrWCOOOOOOOOO..OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO A. Construction of the questionnaire.... B. The problem.of sampling.............. C. Collection of the data............... III. Characteristics of the Sample............ A. Cultural background factors.......... 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Family size...................... Childhood residence.............. Father's occupation.............. Educational level................ Religious background............. B. Premarital and marital factors....... Premarital acquaintance.......... Engagements...00.000000000000000. Age at marriageOOOOOOOOC0.00.0... Length of time married........... Ages of the children............. The husband's enrollment in college Residence during pregnancy....... Average yearly income............ C. Personal backgrounds of the wives.... 1. 2. 5. Health.......COOOOCOOOOOOOOO0.... EmOtional patterns.......ooo..... The role of the wife............. iv Page (0 Q #5 tfi H 15 15 l4 l6 17 19 21 21 22 24 25 26 27 28 50 52 32 33 54 IV. Attitudes and Experiences of the Wives.. A. B. C. E. F. Early planning for children......... 1. Premarital discussion........... 2. Decisions about children........ 3. Number of children planned...... 4. Influence of friends............ Circumstances of conception......... l. Avoidance, indifference, planning 2. Length of time before pregnancy. Reactions to pregnancy.............. 1. ‘NiveS' emOtionSOOOOOOOOOOOO.0... 2. Medical consultation............ 3. Enrollment in a course.......... 4. Evaluation of husband's attitude Physical experiences of pregnancy... 1. HealthOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 2. Serious health problems......... 3. Nausea during pregnancy......... 4. Length Of laborooooooooooooooooo Emotional experiences during preg- nancy.........OOOCOOOOOOOOO0.0.0.... l. Emotional upset................. 2. Worry about the child........... 5. Fears about labor............... 4. Worry about expenses............ Evaluation of experiences........... 1. Evaluation of the pregnancy..... 2. Evaluation of labor............. 5. Would you have your child again? 4. Number of children wanted after pregnancy..............o........ 56 56 56 58 4O 42 45 45 47 47 48 49 50 51 51 52 55 54 56 56 56 58 59 6O 6O 61 61 62 V. Three Attitudes Toward Pregnancy: Their Relation to Factors Contributing to Their DevelopmentCOOOOOOOCO0......O...0.00.0... Size of parental family.......... ChildhOOd residence.............. Educational background........... Employment statuSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Enrollment status................ Health Status.................... Miscarriage history.............. Age at marriage.................. Age and the occurrence of pregnancy VI. Three Attitudes Toward Pregnancy: Their Relation to the Pregnancy Experience..... A. Reaction to pregnancy................ 1. 2. 3. 4. Emotional reaction............... Marital happiness................ Attitude, marital happiness and reaction to pregnancy............ The husband's attitude toward his WifeOOOOOO‘OOOOOOO......OOOOOOCOOC B. Physical eXperiences of pregnancy.... 1. 2. 3. 4. Health during pregnancy.......... Serious health problems.......... Nausea during pregnancy.......... Length of labor.................. C. Emotional experiences of pregnancy... .1. EmOtional upsetoooooooooooooooooo a. Period before first pregnancy. b. First part of pregnancy....... 0. Middle part of pregnancy...... d. Last part of pregnancy........ 6. Period since the birth of the ChildOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO00...... Fears in relation to attitude.... Worry about the child............ Relationship between fears....... Financial worry.................. vi 64 65 68 7O 71 72 74 75 77 78 80 80 80 81 85 84 86 86 88 89 91 92 92 94 95 96 97 97 98 100 101 102 D. Happiness and the pregnancy.......... 1. 2. 5. 4. 5. 1.‘ 2. Happiness the first part of preg- nancyCOOOOOOOOOOO0.00.00.00.00... Happiness the middle part of preg- nancyooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...... Happiness the last part of preg- nancy............................ Happiness since childbirth....... Overall marital happiness........ L. Evaluation of experiences............ Evaluation of the pregnancy experi- enceOOOOOOOOOOO......OOOOOOOOOOOO. Evaluation of the labor experience F. Future Children.........OOOOOOOOOOOOO l. 2. 5. Plans for children............... Fear Of anOther laboroooooooooooo The second child................. a. Attitude toward pregnancy.... b. Educational 1evel............ C. Age at marriageoaoooooooooooo d. Length of time married....... e. Occurrence of first pregnancy f. Age of first child........... g. anily plans................. h. Happiness.................... VII. conCIuSiOnOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO l. th GEO (OUDQCD Background information........... Premarital and marital patterns.. The relationship of background to attitude......................... Trends in the wives' backgrounds. The relationship of attitude to experience....................... Trends in the wives' eXperiences. Evaluation of experiences........ Second children.................. In summary....................... vii 104 104 106 107 109 110 115 115 114 115 115 116 118 118 119 119 120 120 Appendices I. Note on the Statistical Method......... 156 II. The Questionnaire Used in the Study.... 158 BibliographyOOOOOOO0..........OOOOOOOOOOOOO. viii Table l. 5. 4. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. List of Tables Distribution of the wives in the sample according to the number of children in their parental families................ Distribution of the wives in the sample according to their childhood residence. Distribution of the husbands and wives according to parental occupation....... Distribution of the wives according to educational level...................... Religious faiths of the husbands and Wives in the sample.................... Distribution of the couples in the sample according to the length of time they "dated" before marriage................ Distribution of the couples in the sample according to length of engagement...... Distribution of the husbands and wives in the sample according to their ages at the time of marriage......................... Distribution of the couples according'to length or time married-0.00.00.00.00... Ages of the children of the couples 1n the sampleOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOQOOOOOOOOOOQ Distribution of the husbands according to enrollment in school at the time of their WiveS' conceptions..........o.... Distribution of the couples according to place of residence at the time of preg- nancy................OOOOOOOOOOOOOO.... ix Page 14 15 16 18 19 21 22 24 25 26 28 29 lllll.llllllllll‘l 15. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 25. 24. Average yearly income of the couples in the sampleoooooooooooooooo0.0030000000000000 51 Distribution of the couples according to the incidence of premarital discussion re- garding having children, as indicated by Wives...O.......OOOOOOOOOOOCOO0.0....... 57 Relationship between early decision to have children and the occurrence of preg- nancyOOOOOOOOOOOOO......OOOOOOOCOOOOOOC. 39 Distribution of the wives according to the number of children they wanted (before preg- 41 nancy).................................. Relationship between place of residence and evaluation of the influence of friends in decision to have children............ 45 Distribution of the wives according to their attitudes toward pregnancy at the time of conception...................... 44 Distribution of the wives who planned their pregnancies according to the length of time it took to effect conception.... 46 Percentage distribution of the wives ,according to their emotional reactions to the knowledge of pregnancy.............. 47 Percentage distribution of the wives accor- ding to their health during the pregnancy in comparison with health before pregnancy 52 Percentage distribution of the incidence of nausea during three stages of the preg- Haneyper10d0000000000009009000.000.0000 53 Percentage distribution of the wives according to number of hours in labor... 55 Percentage distribution of the wives according to the incidence of emotional upset in three stages of the pregnancy period.................................. 56 I. I III I III. I I I I l I I I i l 13.‘ ‘l‘ll 1|- ‘ll 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 50. 51. 52. 55. 54. 55. 56. 57. Percentage distribution of the wives accor- ding to the extent of worry about the Child during pregnancy.................. Percentage distribution of the wives according to the incidence of fears about labor and childbirth during the" pregnancy periodOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO......0.0 Percentage distribution of the wives according to the incidence of worry about doctor and hospital expenses............ Percentage distribution of the wives according to their evaluations of the pregnancy experience as compared with exp80tation8000000000000O00....000...... Percentage distribution of the wives according to their evaluations of the labor experience as compared with ex- pBCtationSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO00.0. Percentage distribution of the wives according to their decisions about hav- ing children after their first pregnancies Relationship between parental family sine and the wives' attitudes toward pregnancy Relationship between parental family size and the number of children planned by the WiVGSOOOOQOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO00.00.000.000 Relationship between childhood residence and the wives' attitudes toward pregnancy Relationship between educational level and the wives' attitudes toward pregnancy... Relationship between the wives' roles at the time of conception and their attitude toward pregnancy........................ Relationship between health at the time of conception and attitude toward pregnancy.. Relationship between previous miscarriages and the wives' attitudes toward pregnancy xi 57 58 59 60 61 65 66 67 69 71 75 74 76 58. 59. 40. 41. 42. 4s. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. Relationship between age at the time of marriage and attitude toward preg- nancyOOOOOOOOOO0.00.0.0.0.0000...... 78 Relationship between the wife's age at marriage and the occurrence of pregnancy.............a.-........... 78 Relationship between the wife's atti- tude toward pregnancy and reaction to the knowledge of pregnancy.......... 80 Relationship between the wives' ratings of marital happinessaand their reactions to the knowledge of pregnancy........ 82 Relationship between marital happiness, attitude toward pregnancy and reaction to the knowledge of conception....... 85 Relationship between the wife's atti- tude toward pregnancy and the husband's attitude toward the wife after the on- set Of pregnancy...................oo 85 Relationship between previous good health, attitude toward pregnancy and health during pregnancy.............. 86 Relationship between previous poor health, attitude toward pregnancy and health during pregnancy.............. 87 Relationship between attitude toward pregnancy and the indication of seri- ous health problems by the wives..... 88 Relationship between attitude toward pregnancy and the incidence of nausea during three stages of the pregnancy periOdOOOOOOOOOOO.....OOOOOOOOOOOOOCO 90 Relationship between attitude toward . pregnancy and length of labor........ 92 xii ||||ll|r l l I I ‘ .IIIII l. I ll}; . h 49. Relationship between attitude toward preg- nancy and the incidence of emotional upset (as rated by the wives) during five periods Of marriageoocoooooooo0000000000000.0000000 95 50. Relationship between attitude toward preg- nancy and the incidence of fear about labor 100 51. Relationship between attitude toward preg- nancy and worry about the child being healthy and normal........................ 101 52. Relationship between fears about labor and fears about the child being healthy and normal-0............OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO00...... 102 55. Relationship between attitude toward preg- nancy and the incidence and/or extent of worry abOUt finances...................o.. 103 54. Relationship between attitude toward preg— nancy and happiness during the first part of the pregnancy period as compared with happiness before pregnancy................ 105 55. Relationship between attitude toward preg- nancy and happiness during the middle part of the pregnancy period as compared with happiness before pregnancy................ 106 56. Relationship between attitude toward preg- nancy and happiness during the last part of the pregnancy period as compared with happiness before pregnancy.............oo. 108 57. Relationship between attitude toward preg- nancy and happiness during the period since the birth of the first child as compared with happiness before pregnancy........... 110 58. lttitude toward pregnancy as relaged to the wives' evaluations of the pregnancy ex- perienceOOOOOOOOOOOOO.......OOOOOIOOOOOOOO 115 xiii 59. 60. 61. 62. Attitude toward pregnancy as related to the wives' evaluations of the labor ex- perienCGOOO0.00.00........OOOOOOOOOOOCO Relationship between attitude toward pregnancy and plans for children after pregnancy (as compared with previous ' 1318113).coco0000000090...cocoa-000.0000. Relationship between attitude toward pregnancy and fear or lack of fear of a future period of labor and childbirth Relationship between attitude toward pregnancy and the incidence of second" pregnancyoooo00000000000000000000000000 xiv 114 115 117 118 List of Charts Chart Page 1. Percentage of wives who had frequent emo- tional upset during five periods of mar- riage as related to their attitudes toward pregnancy................................. 99 Percentage of wives who indicated that they were "happier" in four periods of marriage than they had been before pregnancy as re; lated to their attitudes toward pregnancy. 112 XV Chapter I Introduction Because an increasing number of couples marry before the husband and in some instances the wife have completed their college education, it was believed that ’a study of family life under such conditions might be investigated to good advantage. If such family life were studied the findings could be used by counselors and educators, and young peeple might be enabled to make realistic decisions about undertaking college marriage if they could weigh its advantages and disad- vantages. College marriages have been studied recently1 from a general viewpoint, thus giving an overall picture of marriage and family life under such conditions. There- fore it was decided that a certain prominent aspect of of these marriages should be investigated because it re- presents perhaps the most vital stage of marriage--the beginning of family life or the period of the wife's first pregnancy. This study then deals with the experi- encer of first pregnancy as it occurred in college mar- riages. 1. ‘ Landis, Judson T. and Mary G., Building A Suc- cessful Marriage, New Yerk, Prentice-Hal , 48. . Pratt, Lois VerVeer, Student Marria as at Michi- gan State College, Unpublished"Masfer's thesfs, MIEHIgan State College, 1948. The information which will be presented in the following chapters was gathered in the form of a per- sonally distributed questionnaire filled out by the husbands and wives living in the barracks apartments on the campus of Michigan State College in the spring of 1949. These couples were interviewed briefly and told of the need for such a study-~that such informa- tion could be very useful to marriage counselors, to educators planning courses in family life education and as a further segment of knowledge concerning family life under certain conditions. The majority of these couples responded willingly by filling out the questionnaires, after which the material was coded and transferred to gellerith cards for cross analyzation on the I.B.M. machines. After the analysis was completed on such machines therelationship between the proportions (where two or more factors were held constant) was tested statisti- cally,1 and the material was evaluated in relation to certain other findings to be presented finally in the following chapters. These chapters depict the charac- teristics of the couples' family backgrounds, their premarital and marital histories; then, the more imme- . F 1. See discussion, Appendix I, p.156 diate personal backgrounds of the wives at the time of conception. The attitudes and experiences of1xhe wives during the pregnancy have been presented as a general picture of the types of experiences and out- look on pregnancy which were found in the group as a whole. After this general presentation is the analysis of the relationship between certain factors in the wives' backgrounds and their attitudes toward pregnancy, follow- ed by the evaluation of the experiences of pregnancy as they were related to previous attitude toward pregnancy at the time of conception. It was believed that this presentation would serve counselors and educators seeking general information about the characteristics of family background, premari- tal acquaintance and marital histories of college couples, and that such general information could be useful in de- picting the experiences of other couples to those about to undertake college marriage. Also, it was believed that specific information about the pregnancy experience from.the wives' vieWpoint would give insight into the picture of the marriage relationship during the period of the first pregnancy. Therefore the emphasis of the analysis is directed upon the circumstances of concep- tion to determine whether or not attitude toward preg- nancy is related to previous influences and whether or not attitude affects the physical and emotional patterns during pregnancy. Chapter II Methodology Construction of the questionnaire The initial project of the study was the design- ing of the questionnaire. It was evident that such an instrument must meet certain.requirements: It must be capable of measuring an adequate sample in the time allowed for the investigation. It must be as quanti- tative as possible for statistical treatment of the ob- jective material gathered; It must assure anonymity. Following the above requirements it was decided to use a questionnaire form.which would be designed in such a manner asto allow for quantification of as many answers as possible by the use of a check answer system. Also, such a questionnaire could be filled out without the presence of an interviewer which would save time in collecting the data. The anonymityof such a method might also influence more couples to fill out such a personal document while they might not be as likely to reveal such information to an interviewer. However, 1 certain inadequacies of the mailed questionnaire were 1. These inadequacies are lower incidence of re- turned questionnaires and lack of knowledge as to why couples either return.or withold.mailed questionnaires after distribution. 4 recognized. In order to avoid them it was decided that it might be better to deliver the questionnaires personally, and to briefly explain the purpose of the study with the instructions that the questionnaires would be called for by the investigator at a certain time. Following this method of collecting the data it 'was assumed that in most instances the wives rather than the husbands might be:found at home at the time of the distribution of the questionnaires. Also, con- sidering the nature of the subject matter it was believed that the wives might be more interested than their hus- bands and be more reliable sources of information. For these reasons the wives were asked most of the general background questions as well as numerous personal ques- tions. In all the questionnaires consisted of seventy questions for the wives and twenty-five for the husbands. The background information asked of the wives was indluded for several reasons. Certain questions were asked in order that the findings regarding some aspects of the study might be further analyzed in relation to general studies of marriage.2 Other questions represent areas which were believed to have some bearing upon the ‘ pregnancy experience. 1. See Appendix II, Questionnaire used in the study. 2. Because of the scape of the present study and the limitation of time this evaluation is not possible here. 5 After a series of questions investigating the wife's personal and family background (as well as the husband's), the following questions pertained to the early part of the marriage in respect to attitude to- ward having children, number of children planned etc. These questions were followed by others about the preg- nancy experiences, health, emotional patterns and evalu- ation of the ease or difficulty with.1hich.pregnancy had been experienced. The next sequence included husband's helpfulness, his attitude, the couple's companionship, disagreements, sexual adjustment, and happiness during pregnancy as well as overall marital happiness. . After this eight-page questionnaire had been com- pleted it was decided that despite the length certain questions which.had previously been omitted (mainly be- cause of the additional length of the questionnaire) should be added. Therefore, the last two pages of the wife's questions were compiled in the best sequence possible and added to the former eight pages. When the questionnaires were returned it was found that there were many unanswered questions among these additional ones; therefore, it was decided that since these questions pertained to or were answered by so few wives, they would be treated to a lesser extent than those in the main part of the questionnaire, and which pertained specifi- cally to the pregnancy experience. The problem.of sampligg After construction of the questionnaire was begun the problmm of sampling arose. Although a large sample was desirable from.certain aspects,1 the limitation imr posed by the time allowed for the study was considered as well as the necessary representativeness of the same pling procedure. Therefore, it wasciecided that the sample should include as many couples as possible to allow for statistical evaluation of the information gathered., Also, it should be drawn from an available population of which certain characteristics were known.2 In this manner it was decided to predetermine the sample by deliberate selection‘ of the couples according to the recency of the pregnancy, family size and residence. An arbitrary ddcisidn was made to limit the sample to persons having one child about two years of age or less, since it was found that there were sufficient cases avail- able which fulfilled.these requirements. This age limit was imposed mainly in order to gather the information 1. Lundberg, George A., Social Research, New Yerk, Longmans,Green, 1942, p. 148. 2. A card file was made available Which gave infor- mation about students who were married and enrolled in M.S.C. at the time of the investigation. 7 from persons who had recently experienced the pregnancy period, but also to exclude families with "only"1 child- ren which family type might be indicated where the one child was as old as three years of age or older. , Because of the homogeneity of living conditions it was believed that a further limitation of sampling to the barracks area might be more representative of the (living conditions experienced in single dwellings or apartments elsewhere than would a more generalized sample including trailer residents and off-campus dwellersz who might have shared a residence during the pregnancy period. The limitation imposed upon residence was also decided upon as an expedient measure in view of the de- cision to canvass the area personally in the length of time allowed for the study. ‘ This purposive selection of persons having one child two years of age or under and living in the barracks apart- ments included 259 couples, which number was believed to include most if not all of the married couples living on the campus at the time of the research, since the infor- mation regarding family size, age of children, etc. was recently gathered. 1. It was believed that couples having one child older than 2% years might have different ideas about fami- ly planning, etc. . 2. It was later found that somewhat less than half the couples lived in such apartments (barracks) during the .pregnancy period, the others residing elsewhere. However, more than three-fourths of the husbands were enrolled in college at the time of conception. 8 In view of the number of available couples who fulfilled the previous requirements it was decided that the complete enumeration should be treated as if it were a sample in time and any generalizations would be based upon this assumption. Therefore, it was de- cided to attempt to get information from.all couples fulfilling the eligibility requirements with respect to age and number of children as well as residence. Any attempt to obtain data from other families would have involved technical complications of sampling, con- tacting and analysis too great for a study of this scope. Collection of the data As was previously discussed in relation to the con- ‘struction of the questionnaire, it was believed that a personal distribution of these forms might be more effec- tive than a mailed method or an interview method consid- ering the size of the sample and the limitation ofisime. Also, since only the investigators would be distribu- ting these forms, it was thought that familiarity with the aims of the study and personal pnrsuasion.might be fincorporatedl in'abrief discussion with each partici- pant at the time of distribution. With such an approach it was believed that more persons might participate than would if the method of distribution were less personal. 9 In this way it was possible also to encourage participation stressing the anonymity of collection of the completed questionnaires, which were gathered in large boxes. A box was carried by the investigator at the time of collection and the participants could place their questionnaires in a slot provided, which arrangement allowed for complete anonymity, since many questionnaires were collected before the contents were examined. After collection of the questionnaires the responses to the questions were coded and the informa- tion recorded on Hollerith cards for statistical analysis. Distribution of the questionnaires was made during the last two weeks of winter term through the first week or so of spring term at Michigan State College, 1949. The investigators used a map of the barracks area which had been divided into sections according to the addresses which seemed to comprise natural segments of theatres. Each of these segmentswas visited one day, the question- naires being left to be called for the following day. After the first week of distribution it wasciecided to allow a somewhat longer period of time between distribution and ‘ l collection of the questionnaires. Approximate appoint— 1. Many of the husbands were studying for exami- nations and had little time to fill out the questionnaire during this period. 10 ments were made in regard to the collection of the questionnaires and the couple's convenience was con- sidered at all times in order to encourage as many couples as possible to participate in the study. Following this procedure very little reluctance was encountered. Only three verbal refusals were re- ceived at the time of collection,1 and three unanswered forms were returned without comment. In addition to these refusals, four questionnaires were returned with only the wife's part completed, thus suggesting possible disinterest on the husband's part, or even indignation; however, suflh.refusals are also unknown.2 Because these partial refusals might be representative of other un- ' known differences from.the remainder of the sample it‘ decided that those questionnaires which were returned with only one part completed could not be used in the final analysis. Because certain information gathered in the husband's questionnaire was to be used in comparison with that of the wife's questionnaire and vice versa, it was believed that those questionnaires which had been incompletely answered by either husband or wife would 1. These refusals were made by wives who remarked that their husbands had refused to participate and had requested that they refuse also. ‘2. As was previously indicated, the questionnaires were returned in an anonymous manner that did not allow for any further questioning as to reasons of refusal. 11 best be omitted from the final analysis. Therefore, these returned_forms were not considered refusals al- though the inadequacy of the information made complete analysis impossible. Aside from.these refusals and/or inadequately com- pleted questionnaires, four additional questionnaires could not be used in the final analysis because the in- formation gathered revealed that the families did not conform to the definition of the sample.1 Of the 225 returned questionnaires, thirteen could ‘not be used in the analysis. In summary, four indica- ted facts that did not conform to the limits of the sample; six were only partially filled out; and three were completely unanswered. Thus it was possible to utilize the information gathered in 212 of the returned questionnaires which had been filled out by both.husbands and wives. This information appears in the following chgpters. ‘ 1. One wife indicated that the child was born to a previous marriage and was older than 2% years, While the other three wives remarked that they had already had a second child, thus eliminating all from.the sample. 12 Chapter III Characteristics of the Sample The present chapter will depict the cultural, premarital and marital, and personal background factors of the wives for the most part. In Some instances the husbands' backgrounds will be discussed as they compare with those of the wives; however, the purpose of the presentation is to portray the attributes of the wives in order that sudh characteristics may be considered in relation to their experiences and attitudes toward pregnancy. A Cultural background The family patterns of the wives have been analyzed as to number of children per family, childhood residence, and parental occupation.‘ Also, the factors of educa- tional level and religious faith have been investigated. These background factors have been presented in order to depict the cultural influences whichrmuy‘have affected the wives' attitudes and experiences during pregnancy. The responses of the group as a whole will be discussed here with further analysis in succeeding chapters. 13 Family size It was found that the wives1 for the most part (65.1 per cent) came from quite large families, the average size parental family being that of three child- ren, while 41.1 per cent of the group indicated that they had been.members of even larger families. The distribution of the wives according to the number of children in their parental families appears below: Table 1. Distribution of the wives in the sample according to the number of children in their parental families Number of children Wives per family (Percent) One 13.2 Two 21.7 Three 24.0' Four to six* 27.9 Seven and more 13.2 -Total caSes 212 * These numbers were combined at the time of coding to stabilize the size of such groups as it was believed that essentially the same influences would be present in families of four, five or six children. 1. The distribution for the husbands was essen- tially the same. 14 Childhood residence The wives were found to have come from.small towns and/or rural areas to a greater extent than from.urban communities. More than half the group (58.5 percent) indicated that they had lived in communities not exceeding a population of 10,000. The distribution of the wives according to their childhood residence appears in the following table: Table 2. Distribution of the wives in the sample according to their childhood residence Type of locality* Wives (Percent) Country . 19.0 Small town 89.5 City 41.5 Total cases 210 No response 2 * The localities specified in Table 2. repre- sent a combination of a more elaborate break- down which was used in the questionnaire. The first of these localities includes the indica- tions of "farm" and "open country" residence; the second of "village" and "City of 2,500 to 10,000 population;" the last of city residence of population over 10,000. These were combined as the distribution suggested in order to sta-e bilize the groups without changing the essen- tial characteristics of this factor. 15 Father's occupation‘ It was found that both the husbands' and the.Ilves' fathers were more often engaged in occupations suggesting skilled labor than in other occupations. A few more of husbands' fathers were professional persons than were the wives' fathers; however, there were a few more unskilled laborers among the husbands' fathers than among the wives'. The distribution of the husbands and wives according to their respective fathers' occupations appears below: Table 5. Distribution of the husbands and wives according to parental occupation Type of occupation Wives' Husbands' fathers fathers (Percent) Professional 5.5 8.4 PrOprietors, Managers 15.8 9.9 Clerical, Sales 19.7 14.5 Farming . 10.6 15.7 Skilled labor ' 57.6 56.0 Unskilled labor 11.0 15.7 Total cases 208 205 No response 4 9 The distribution in Table 5. indicates that for the most part the wives as well as the husbands come from middle class backgrounds, assuming that socio-economic level is related to the type of occupation engaged in by their parents. 16 Educational level The educational level of the wives as a group is very high which also suggests the presence of middle class goals on the part of the parental families. One author comments, "Every middle-class parent who is financially able attempts to educate his children be- yond secondary school, at least to some extent."1 It was found that over half (51.9 percent) the wives in the group had had some higher education, the average level attained by the wives being that of from one to two years of college.2 It should be noted that the educational level attained by the wives is for the most part that which they had completed at the time of marriage; however, twenty-eight of the wives indicated that they were enrolled in school at the time of con- ception, which would suggest that the educational level of the wives in the present sample is not necessarily 3 Static. 1. Davis, Allison and Gardner, Burleigh and Mary, Deep South, Chicago, Univ. of Chicago Press, 1941, p.77. 2. The husbands were of course, continuing their college education, the average level of attainment being between three and four years of college. 5. Over one-third (54.0 percent) of the wives re- marked that they had scmetime wished to attend school since the birth of their children, while fifteen of the wives indicated that they had attended since the birth of their children. 17 The distribution of the wives according to their educational backgrounds appears in the following table: Table 4. Distribution of the wives accord- ing to educational level Educational level Wives (Percent) Grade school only .9 1 - 5 years of high school 2.8 . 4 years of high school 44.4 1 - 2 years of college 19.8 5 - 4 years of cgllege 19.5 Nurse's training“ 9.0 Postgraduate (college) 5.8 Total cases 212 * This classification includes those wives Who.indicated that they had one or more years of college and/or who indicated that they had also had one or more years of nurse's training. It should be noted that the extremes in educational are represented by few cases; therefore, further analysis of this factor utilizes a dichotomous classification combining those with high school education and below, and those with higher education in order that statis- tical treatment might be used. The relationship be- tween educational background and attitude toward preg- nancy is discussed in Chapter V. 18 Religious background It was found that the majority of the husbands and wives were of the Protestant faith, 77.7 percent of the wives indicating that they were and 77.1rpsrcent indicating that their husbands were.1 The distribu- tion of husbands and wives according to their religious faiths appears in the following table: Table 5. Religious faiths of the husbands and wives in the sample Religious faith Wives‘ Husbands (Percent) Protestant 77.7 77.1 Catholic 17.5 15.7 Jewish .5 1.0 Other faiths 2.4 2.4 NO faith 1.9 508 Total cases 212 210 No response 0 2 The data indicate that for the most part the up- bringing or cultural conditioning was probably influ- enced by Protestant concepts about family life, it being assumed that for the most part the husbands and wives continued to retain early beliefs as was indica- ted by their comments in regard to church attendance. The wives remarked frequently that although they L "T 1. The wives were asked to answer this and cer- tain other background questions for~their husbands. 19 seldom attended religious services since the birth of their children, that they had attended more regularly in the past and wished to attend more frequently at present. Many of the wives commented that they atten- ded "Very seldom.here, but always at home during vaca- tions," which fact would seem to indicate the strength of parental influence and/or home ties. ‘ In summary, the cultural backgrounds of the wives suggest that for the most part they come from fairly large parental families representing middle class stan- dards as evidenced by the typical occupational patterns of their fathers. Also, it is apparent that the major- ity of the wives lived in small communities during their childhood, continued their schooling through high school and into college; and finally, were of the Protestant faith. It should be noted that the husbands' backgrounds were essentially the same as the wives, suggesting that probably most of the marriages were endogamous, the couples having married within their own social strata or into a contiguous strata. 1. Centers, Richard, "Marital Selection and Occu- pational Strata," Amer.g,Soc., 1949,54,p.555, discusses the"tendency toward occupational endogamy in.American marriages." 20 Premarital acquaintance The general courtship patterns have been investi- gated in order to depict the more immediate backgrounds exemplified by the husbands and wives. It was found that virtually half (40.7 percent) of the couples had ”dated"1 for as long a period as from six to twenty- three months before marriage, While an additional 50.2 percent of the couples had dated for an even longer period. This fact suggests that the couples in the sample might represent a fairly well adjusted group considering the relationship between premarital acquain- 2 tance and.marital adjustment. Table 6. Distribution of the couples in the sample according to the length of time they "dated" before marriage Duration of dating Couples period (Percent) Less than 6 months 14.4 6 - 25 months 40.7 2 - 4 years 50.2 5 years and more 14.7 Total cases 209 No response 3 1. This term was used to include the entire period of the courtship; however, it was also decided to include a question pertaining to engagement, to determine how many of the wives considered that they had been "engaged." 2. Burgess, E.W., and Cottrell, L.S., Predicti Success or Failure in Marria e, New YOrk, Prentice-Haél, , p.—164-165, discuss the 'direct positive relation of length of acquaintance with marital compatibility." 21 Engaggment In response to a question which asked whether or not the couple had been engaged, and if so, how long, it was found that slightly over half (51.7 percent) of the couples¥had been engaged as long as from.three to eight months, while about one-third (55.5 percent) of them.had been engaged longer. The distribution appears in the following table: Table 7. Distribution of the couples in the sample according to length of engagement Length of engagement Couples ‘(Percent) Less than three months 14.8 5 - 8 months 51.7 9 — 25 months p . ' 25.0 2 years and more 8.5 Total cases 176 Not engaged _ . 29 No response - 7 An examination of Tables 6. and 7. reveals that the average length of time dated was that of the period2 of from.six to twenty-three months; while the average engagement was of from three to eight months. Also, it may be seen that only twenty-nine or 15.5 percent 1. This sample included only the 176 wives who responded by indicating the length of their engagements. 2. Greater refinement is not possible because the datawean coded according to range. 22 of the total sample were not engaged, which figure corresponds closely with the findings of Landis1 in regard to the incidence of engagement in.his study of student marriages. Although it appears as if half the group had rela- tively short engagements it should be noted that the average dating period was from six to twenty-three months thus suggesting that for the most part acquain- tance may have been of sufficient duration to allow for adequate preparation for marriage.2 At least it would appear that certain aims of the husband in regard to continuing his education were probably discussed during the period of premarital acquaintance, and that agreement had been reached since all of the husbands were enrolled in eollege at the time of the study. Therefore, it is concluded that for the most part, tcompanionship": and understanding of goals were pre- sent in these courtship patterns since essentially they represent longer periods of acquaintance than those wherein the "emotional feeling of certainty (is) inspired by short-lived romantic love."3 1. 0p.01t., Land18, P. 1830 2. Duball, E.M., and Hill, R., When You Margy, Boston, D.C.Heath, 1945, p. 84. remark:_th§t—“Couples carry over into marriage the patterns of getting along which they hage worked out in engagement..." 5. Op.cit., Burgess and Cottrell, p. 168., discuss the importance of'Teompanionshlp tested by time" in re- spect to successful marriage. 23 p Age at marriage It was found that the general pattern of age at marriage was for the wives to be somewhat younger 1 although than the husbands in the group as a whole, in some instances the reverse would be true. This pattern appears in the following table: Table 8. Distribution of the husbands and wives in the sample according to their ages at the time of marriage Age at marriage Wives Husbands (Percent) Under 20 years _ 20.4 4.5 20 - 22 years 55.6 45.6 25 - 25 years 17.4 59.6 26 years and older* 6.6 10.5 Total cases 212 210 No response 0 2 * This classification includes a scattered number of cases representing the late twen- ties and several in the early thirties. An examination of the data reveals that the medi- - an age at marriage is 21 years for the wives and 25 years for the husbands. The presentation in Table 8. illustrates the natural tendencies suggested by the distribution of the raw data; this grouping was com- bined into two age groups for further analyzation 2 when other cleavages were suggested. 1. Age differences were not compared between _husbands and wives as couples, however. 2. Age at marriage in relation to attitude toward pregnancy is discussed in Chapter V. 24 Length of time married The majority (75.8 percent) of the couples in the sample had been.married over a period of from 1% to 5% years, the average marriage being about1 three years in length. The distribution of the couples according to length of time married appears in the following table: Table 9. Distribution of the couples according to length of time married Number of years married Couples (Percent) Less than 1% 1.9 1 - 2% 35.9 - 5% 40.7 3? " 4? 7.2 4s - 6a 11.4 More than 6% 2.9 Total cases 211 No response 1 l. A more exact refinement is impossible because the wives were asked to indicate the length of their ‘marriages in"round" nwmbers. When it was feund that a few of the wives indicated more exact periods the coding was designed to include such comments and these were re- corded according to the range illustrated in Table 9. 25 ages of the children The age of the first child was asked in order to eliminate any persons from.the sample who had experi- enced the pregnancy period too far in the past.1 Also, it was considered as a possible variable in evaluating the comments of the couples in regard to the pregnancy experience. The distribution of the couples' children according to their age at the time of the research.may be seen in the following table: Table 10. Ages of the children of the couples in the sample Age Children (Percent) Less than 6 weeks. 5.7 6 weeks - 5 months 15.1 4 - 6 months 10.1 7 - 12 months 19.7 1 - 2w years 55.4 Total cases 207 No response 5 An examination of Table 10. reveals that over half the couples were recalling the experiences of first pregnancy over a period of a year or more, but in all cases less than three years. The data indi- cate that the approximate average2 age of the children is between one and two and one-half years. Because 1. See discussion of the limits of the sample, PP. 7'80 2. The data wnsucoded according to range rather than to individual ages, thus limiting further refinement. 26 so few cases are represented in the early weeks and months since childbirth this factor was not investi- gated as it may have influenced the couples' memory in the evaluation of experiences. The husband's enrollment in collegg, As was previously mentioned, all the husbands were enrolled in college at the time of the investigation; however, it was believed that some of the pregnancies may have occurred before the husbands were enrolled, which circumstance might allow for differences in the wife's attitude toward having a child. It was found that the greatest majority (85.5 percent) of the husbands were going to college at the time of their wives' conceptions, which prOportion was considered suf- ficient to conclude that in the main the experiences and attitudes represented in the study should be con- sidered as pertaining to college marriage, rather than to marriage under different circumstances. Also, it is probable that a certain number of those husbands Who were not previously enrolled in school did so at the time of their wives' pregnancies or shortly there- after which would add to the proportion who were ex- periencing pregnancy under similar conditions. The distribution of the husbands according to their enroll- 27 ment in school at the time of their wives' conceptions appears in the following table: Table 11. Distribution of the husbands according to enrollment in school at the time of their wives' conceptions Status indicated Husbands (Percent) Enrolled in school 85.5 Not in school 16.5 Total cases ‘ 212 Residence during_pregnancy Although all of the couples in the sample were residing under similar housing conditions at the time of the investigation, it was not assumed that all of them had experienced the pregnancy period under these conditions. Therefore, the wives were asked about their residence during pregnancy. It was believed that certain types of residential conditions might be more difficult than.others, also that life in certain surroundings might be related to the couple's decision to have a child. After the questionnaires were re- turned it was believed that the latter relationship was of primary importance, therefore, when more than one residence was commented upon this residence was coded as the first residence or residence at the time of con- ception. Because this occurred in few instances it 28 Should be noted that for the most part residence at the time of conception was the same as residence during pregnancy. However, because of incidence of several residences for some of the couples, and because the ex- act conditions of residence were not known where the residence was off-campus, this variable was not investi- gated further in relation to the pregnancy experience. The relationship between residence at the time of con- ception and the influence of friends in decision to ~04- have children was investigated, however. Table 12. Distribution of the couples accor- ding to place of residence at the time of preg- nancy Place of residence Couples (Percent) Barracks apartments 44.5 Trailers 12.8 Shared dwellings ' 22.5 Apartments 17.4 Single dwellings 2.8 Total cases 209 No response 5 An examination of Table 12. reveals that the most common residence was that of the barracks apartments on the campus, followed by shared dwellings (including residence with in-laws and other persons). It may be seen that over half (57.5 percent) of the couples were 29 residing on the campus at the time of the wives' first pregnancies, and three-fourths of these wives were living in the barracks apartments. It is sug- gested then that the evaluation of the pregnancy ex- periences be considered in relation to this housing factor. Average_year1y income The wives were responsible for the evaluation of average yearly income. Their indications showed both possible overestimation and underestimation, and it was believed that this information was not sufficiently re- liable to use it in further analysis. However, since most if not all1 of the husbands are veterans it is probable that the average yearly income might be about $1,500 to $2,000,;which.amount was the average income indicated by the wives. This income range corresponds with other findings2 and seems logical considering the fact that many of the wives and husbands were employed after marriage in addition to receiving the usual gov- ernment stipend. 1. As no questionnaire was found Which did not indicate veteran status this question was not coded. 2. Op.cit., Pratt, p.97, found that the "mean monthly income" of one-child families at M.S.C. in 1948 was $156.00, which amount corresponds with the upper range of the average income (yearly) in the present sample. 5, This allotment provides most veterans enrolled in school, $105 per month.with.one dependent or $120 per month with two dependents. 50 Table 15. Average yearly income of the couples in the sample Average income Couples (Percent) Less than $1,000 1.5 $1,000-51,500 29.8 $1,500-52,000 26.8 $2,000-t2,500 18.4 $2,500-55,000 11.4 55,000-55,500 7.5 $5,500-w4,000 and over 4.6 Total cases 202 No response 10 The variance indicated in average income sug- gests that many of the couples were receiving income from.jobs or other sources in addition to the govern- ment subsistence. It was found that 141 of the wives and 152 of the husbands had either been employed be- fore or as a result of the pregnancy, which.fact would account for the differences shown. 51 Personal backgrounds cf the wives Certain immediate variables in the wives' back- grounds at the time of conception will be discussed in the following pages. The first of these pertains to health and miscarriage history, the next to emo- tional patterns before the pregnancy period, and the last to the wife's "role"1at the time of conception. Health The wives were asked to rate their health at the time of conception. It was found that 191 or 90.2 percent of them.believed that they had been in "excell- ent" or "good" health, while 21 or 9.8 percent; had con- sidered that their health had been only "fair" or "poor." It is concluded then that for the most part the wives were in good physical condition to undertake pregnancy, which factor is "of paramount importance,"2according to one authority who discusses the necessity of consider- ing the mother's health prior to pregnancy. Miscarriage history The wives were questioned as to the incidence of mischrriages before their first full-term pregnancies. 1. Mead,Margaret, "The American Family as an An- thropologist Sees It," Amer.Jour.Soc.,Vol.LIII,No.6,May'48 discusses the "roles" of marriage and motherhood,p.469., 2. Nelson,Janet F., "Are You Going to Have a Baby?‘ Successful Marriage, edited by Fishbein,fl., and Burgess, E.W., New York, Doubleday, 1948, p. 225. 52 It was found that 195 or 91.9 percent of the 210 wives who answered this question had not experienced miscarriage prior to their first full-term pregnancies, While 17 or 8.1 per cent of the group had miscarried previously. It appears that the same prOportion of wives had miscarriages as had poor health at the time of conception. The relationship between these factors and attitude toward pregnancy is discussed in Chapter V. Emotional patterns The incidence of emotional upset among the wives was investigated in the periods before, during and since pregnancy. It was found that emotional upset before pregnancy was quite common among those wives (192) who answered this question; however, it is suggested that the twenty wives Who did not indicate any emotional up- set or lack of it may have been representative of the latter category. Of those wives responding to this part of the rating question, almost half (45.7 percent) the group indicated that they experienced such emotional upset "frequently" or "sometimes" before their first pregnancies, While 56.5 per cent indicated that they had experienced emotional upset "rarely" or "never." 53 It is believed possible that the high incidence of emotional upset before pregnancy could be related to overactivity on the part of many of the wives, since a large proportion of them were working, and a consider- able number were enrolled in school in addition to their duties as housewives. The role of the wife The wives were asked whether or not they had held a job outside the home or were enrolled in school at the time of conception. The data indicate that the majority (66.5 percent) of the wives were employed While 15.2 percent were enrolled in school, leaving 20.5 percent engaged in neither of these activities. It seems that for the most part the wives were not actually preparing for pregnancy considering the high proportion who were engaged in activities outside the home. The high incidence of working wives in the period before pregnancy suggests that there may have been a pre- vious understanding between the husbands and wives that the wife would work outside the home in order that the husband could continue in college. If so, this incidence 1. It will be noted that only 76 of the wives had actually planned their pregnancies, while 81 wives indi- cated that they had tried to avoid pregnancy. This is discussed.more fully in Chapter V. 54 of wives working outside the home seems logical, and should not necessarily be considered as representing 1 the desire of women to continue a career after marriage. Landis comments upon the wife's role in college marriages, saying, "The 'G.I.Bill of Rights' has made it possible for those who are otherwise ready to marry to be married and yet continue in college. It is safe to assume that as long as government subsidies continue and economic conditions are such that college wives can add substantially to the income by holding jobs outside the home, magy students will continue to be married." In summary, then, it appears that the majority of the wives were-in good health at the time of conception, and had not experienced previous miscarriages. Also, it was indicated that they had for the most part ox- perienced emotional upset to some extent, and that most of them were engaged in activities outside the home before their first pregnancies. These variables are discussed more fully in Chapters V and VI. 1. Op.cit., Mead, suggests that women, especially "the young college girl" may have difficulty or conflict in deciding whether to marry and be content with the do- mestic role, Or to seek outlets which include both marriage and other roles.(p. 469.) 2. Op.cit., Landis, p. 115. 55 Chapter IV Attitudes and Experiences of the Wives The major part of the wife's questionnaire deals ‘ with the ideas, emotions and experiences of first preg- nancy as evaluated in retrospect. In order to depict these attitudes and experiences of the group as a whole the information which was gathered from their responses will be presented in this chapter with further analysis in later chapters.1 Early planning for children It was believed of interest and of possible re- lation to the later experiences of the wives to deter- mine how many of them.had entered into marriage knowing their affianced's ideas about children. Also, it waS' believed that the indication of such serious and free discussions between the couples would be suggestive of the solving of differences before marriage, thus re- sulting in a greater proportion of happy marriages than would occur had such a period of "testing" and acquain- tancez not been experienced. 1. Chapters V and VI 2. Op.cit., Duvall g2d_Hill,Pp. 85-88, discuss the advantages of the engagement period wherein the couple may discuss freely their concepts,discover and solve any differences before marriage. 56 As was previously indicated, the average length of time the couple had "dated" before marriage had been that period of from nine to twenty-three months, thus suggesting that for the most part a sufficient length of time should have elapsed during which such discussions could have taken place. Therefore, it seems logical that for the most part the couples had discussed their ideas about having children, as was indicated by the wives. Table 14. Distribution of the couples accor- ding to the incidence of premarital discussion regarding having children, as indicated by Iives Response indicated Wives, (Percent) Discussed children 85.0 Did not discuss children 6.4 No recollection of discussion 8.6 Total cases 209 No response 5 An examination of Table 14. reveals that apparently' very few of the couples or wives entered into marriage without first having discussed such basic ideas; there- fore it might be assumed that certain decisions had been made by many of the couples as to whether or not they should have children and/or how soon, even before they 57 were married. Also, it is apparent that such plans would influence the decision made by the couple in respect to the wife working outside the home while the husband continued his education. Decisions the early part of marriage were next investigated. Decisions about children rIn response to a check list question which in- quired whether or not the couple had reached a mutual decision "during the first month or so of marriage" about having children, it was found that of the 211 wives who answdred this question, the majority (67.0 percent) indicated that they "decided to wait awhile” before having children. In many instances these wives commented as to their reasons for such a decision. ‘ Many of these reasons pertained to the problem of finan- cial management while the husband continued his educa- tion. For instance, one wife commented, "We thought having a baby would interfere with school and we wouldn't be able to manage financially and other ways." Such comments as the latter were frequent, thus indicating the predominance of wives who probably de- cided to forego motherhood until their husbands had completed their education and were established in their chosen occupations. However, regardless of such early 58 decisions, it is apparent that a certain number of the wives failed to consider their own fertility, since 40.3 percent of the group became pregnant within a period of six months after marriage. The relation- ship between the wife's decision to have children and the occurrence of pregnancy appears in the following table: Table 15. Relationship between early decision to have children and the occurrence of pregnancy Occurrence of Type of decision pregnancy Wanted child Wanted to. None* "right away" "wait awhile" (Percent) By first six months of marriage 67.0 29.4 62.0 After seven or more months of marriage 55.0 70.6 38.0 1 Total cases - 18 143 50 * This classification includes all indications of no discussion, no mutual decision and indifference ("didn't care") in regard to having children. It may be seen that the differences illustrated between the proportions of those wives Who had made no decisions and those who had decided to "wait awhile" in regard to the occurrence of pregnancy are great. It was found that this relationship could not have occurred by chance alone more than one percent of the time, the difference between these prOportions being 1. It shoudd be noted that one wife did not re- spond to these questions, therefore the ercent _ tribution is based upon 211 cases, P age dis 39 highly significant. It is apparent that those wives who decided to wait awhile before having children were far more likely to have done so than those wives who had made no decisions during the first month or so of marriage. Conversely, lack of decision about having children was more likely to result in early pregnancy than was the decision to delay parenthood for awhile. Also, it may be seen that those wives Who wanted to have a child "right away" were most likely to have be— come pregnant by the first six.months of marriage than were the wives who expressed different attitudes. There- fore it is concluded that early decisions about having children appear to have a definite influence upon the occurrence of pregnancy. Number of children planned Concepts regarding family size were investigated in order to evaluate the type of plans for children made by college couples, and to discover whether or not the pregnancy experience affected such plans. It was found that virtually half (46.5 percent) of the couples had planned (before pregnancy) to have families of four or more children. Considering the circumstances of resi- dence of most of the couples during the pregnancy period it would seem that such plans may have been.more indica- tive of desire for children at a later date than for 40 children While the husband completed his education. It was found that there is a decided relationship be- tween the number of children planned by the wife and her attitude toward pregnancy, a greater proportion of those wives planning to have large families having tried Ito conceive than those planning to have only one or two children.1 The wives' comments regarding the number of child- ren they wanted to have(before they became pregnant) appear in the followingfiable: Table 16. Distribution of the wives accor- ding to the number of children they wanted (before pregnancy) Number of children. Wives (Percent) One or two 18.5 Two or three 30.4 Four or more 46.5 "Undecided" 2.7 None planned 1.9 Total cases. 211 No response 1 It may be seen that the categories in Table 16. represent the approximate number of children planned, as a majority of the wives did not set an arbitrary figure, but indicated such numbers as shown in the above table. Therefore, these comments were coded accordingly even though this resulted in some over- lapping in the numbers: however, this overlapping was 1. See discussion, Chapter V. 41 was not considered to be a serious inadequacy since the essential concepts could be considered as repre- sentative of plans for three sizes of families. In summary, it is indicated that the plans for children do not parallel the findings of recent studies1 in respect to the number of children planned by persons with college background. However, the greater propor- tion of wives planning to have four or more children suggests that indeed "the war years may....have brought about a shifting of values so that children seem more 2 essential to happiness." Influence of friends The response to the question regarding influence of friends in decision to have a child was compared with the response to the question of residence at the time of pregnancy. 10f those 117 wives who apparently had friends with children and indicated whether or not they had been influenced in their decision to have a child, it may be seen3 that there is a slight trend for those persons Who lived on-campus to have indicated such in- fluence to a greater extent than those who lived else- where. Although this difference is not statistically l. Op.cit., Landis, discusses the decrease in family size and plans for children, p. 368. 2. Ibid, p. 369. 3. Table 17, p. 43. 42 significant, it is suggested that there may be greater influence exerted by friends in such cir- cumstances of residential proximity than in less homogeneous communities. The relationship between place of residence and the evaluation of the influ- ence of friends appears in the following table: Table 17. Relationship between place of resi- dence and evaluation of the influence of friends in decision to have children Evaluation of Place of residence influence Off-campus On-campus . (Percent) Influenced "somewhat" A or "a great deal" - 25.6 32.4 Not at all influenced 74.4 67.6 Total cases1 . .74 43 [Circumstances of conception It was believed that there might be a decided re- lationship between the circumstances of conception and the attitudes and the experiences of the wives during pregnancy. For this reason the wives were asked whether or not they were trying to avoid pregnancy at the time .of conception. Their responses indicated that 81 or 38.2 percent of the wives were trying to avoid pregnancy l. The remaining 95 wives either indicated that they had not planned their child or did not have any friends with children. 43 while 131 said they had not tried to avoid pregnancy. The responses of the latter group were considered in relation to two questions,1 which were believed to del- ineate the difference between actual planning or the desire to have a child at the time of conception and indifference toward having a child.» Sixty-six wives actually indicated the length of time it had taken to effect conception once the pregnancy had been "planned," and it was evident that ten wives who did not comment in this manner had also planned their pregnancies, leaving fifty-five wives who had apparently neither planned nor tried to avoid pregnancy. These indications of the type and/or presence of planning for children were then assumed to be represen- tative of three basic attitudes toward having children. These three attitudes, then, were considered in relation to the wives' backgrounds and experiences during pregnancy in order to determine whether there might be any relation- ship between such variables and attitude. The distribu— tion of the wives according to their attitudes follows: Table 18. Distribution of the wives accor- ding to their attitudes toward pregnancy at the time of conception Attitude toward pregnancy ' (Percent) Tried to avoid 38.2 Neither tried to avoid nor planned to become pregnant 26.0 Planned to become pregnant 35.8 'Total cases 212 1. See questions 23 and 25, Wife's Questionnaire. 44 It may be seen that almost as many wives actu- ally planned to become pregnant as were trying to avoid conception. The differences in the experiences of these groups will be discussed in Chapter VI, since it might be expected that the positive planning under- lying the experiences of one group might be more favor- able than the negative planning or attempted avoidance of conception behind those experiences of the other group. .However, it is conceded that the indication of avoidance of pregnancy does not necessarily mean com- plete lack of desire to have a child, but more likely an attitude tempered by the cirnumstances of economic conditions in particular. As far as actual planning was represented among the wives it will be found1 that certain factors were evident in the personal and.marita1 backgrounds of the wives Which were related to such decisions, and that from.many standpoints these wives did not differ greatly from.those who became pregnant before they weretictually prepared to have children. Length of time before_pregnangy If the pregnancy had been planned the wives were re- quested to indicate how long it had taken to effect con- ception after the decision to have a child. The response 1. See discussion of background variables, Chapter V. 45 to this question appears in the following table: Table 19. Distribution of the wives who planned their pregnancies according to the length of time it took to effect conception Length of time before Wives conception (Percent) "Became pregnant immediately" 47.0 After 1 - 6 months 34.9 After 7 - 12 months 13.6 After 2 - 4 years 4.5 Total cases ' 66 It may be seen that almost half (47.0 percent) of the wives Who planned their pregnancies were able to conceive "immediately" and that the majority of the wives were pregnant within a period of six months after they decided to_have a child. This finding agrees with a remark made by Butterfield Who said that, "the average couple takes from 3 to 6 months to effect a pregnancy."1 It is apparent that the proportion of wives who had difficulty in conceiving is so small as to deny the treatment of this variable in further come parisons; therefore, this factor is not considered in relation to further experiences during pregnancy, al- though it is possible that those wives who had health problems and/or had difficulty in conceiving may also have experienced more difficulty during pregnancy than ‘did the other wives. 1. Butterfield, Oliver, M., Sex Life in Marriage, New York, Emerson Books, Inc., 1947, p. 127. 46 Reaction to the knowledge of pregnancy The wives' reactions to pregnancy-~their emotional and behavioral patterns will be discussed as the infor- mation was gathered from.the questionnaires. These re- sponses suggest that for the most part the wives had reacted to the knowledge of pregnancy with happy thoughts although a considerable number of the wives indicated that their emotions had been mixed; i.e., "happy but worried," etc. These reactions were coded as indicated and in some instances several responses were representa- tive of the wives' emotions; therefore, the latter were combined. The distribution of the responses appears in the following table: Table 20. Percentage distribution of the wives according to their emotional reactions to the knowledge of pregnancy Type of reaction Wives ' (Percent) Happy only ' 63.9 Unhappy only . 11.9 Worried only 11.4 Mixed reactions with worry 10.0 Indignant .9 Indifferent, resigned 1.9 Total cases 210 No response 2 In conclusion, it is suggested that these reactions to pregnancy were not necessarily static, since seventy- 47 five of the wives (37.0 percent) indicated that they had had some change in attitude concerning the preg- nancy (at a later period). For the most part such indications were in the direction of a more positive outlook, although in a few instances the difficulties of the pregnancy experience (i.e., fear of miscarriage, and gxaégsivgwfigugg§,) were responsible for a negative change in outlook. This question was not treated statistically because it was often answered inadequately or not at all. The fact that so many of the wives re- marked that they had lost their fear, ceased to worry etc. as the pregnancy progressed suggests that atleast by the time of childbirth.most if not all of the wives were happy that they would have a child. ledical consultation The wives were asked how soon they had consulted a doctor. This question wastisked in order to deter- mine the extent of medical care received during the pregnancy period. Since it was found that the majority of the wives (72.6 percent) were under medical care frmm the second month of pregnancy this variable was not con- sidered further. It is apparent that for the most part medical attention during pregnancy consisted of regular visits throughout the period; therefore, it is assumed the variable of medical attention would not differ greatly in the group as a whole. Such care might well have 48 ,been responsible for the lack of serious health problems in the group as a Whole, and possibly the short periods of labor which were found to be char- acteristic of the sample. Many of the wives commented upon the fact that they had had excellent obstetrical care during pregnancy and that their doctors had cor- rected their health problems (i.e., anemia) during this period. It is probable that many of these wives recog- nized the importance1 of such prenatal care and cooper- ated with their doctors in respect to diet and physical program, which.may have been causal in relatively short periods of labor which were indicated by the group as 2 a whole. _figrollment in a course ' In order to determine interest and preparation for parenthood the wives were asked whether or not they had enrolled in a course designed to help them understand pregnancy, ahd childbirth. Although only 18.4 percent of the group said that they had attended classes, a consid- erable number remarked that they had read books and ar- ticles on the subject, and that they had not lived where "any such course was offered. Of those 39 wives who said 1. ‘Every WOman's Standard Medical GuideLGreystone Press, New Ybrk, 1948, p. 85;—fllt must be strongly em! phasized that as soon as a woman suspects that pregnancy has begun, she should visit her physician." 2. Most medical persons suggest that exsess weight gain may result in complications at the time of labor if not before. 49 they had attended classes, it was noticed that the majority had enrolled in the course offered to the students' wives on the campus. It is concluded, then, that interest in the pregnancy cannot be measured by enrollment in a course, since it was evident that all of the wives had not had the chance to attend such classes; however, the popularity of the local course was attested by the high proportion1 of wives who indi- cated that they had attended "Mothercraft classes at the Trailer Rec. Hall." Evaluation of the husband's attitude The wives were asked to indicate whether or not their husbands attitude toward them had changed after the pregnancy began. This question was asked in order to determine whether or not the pregnancy always brought the couples closer together as was commonly believed in past years, or whether it caused a certain degree of alienation in some relationships. It was found that the wives were almost equally divided in their outlook as to whether or not their husbands' attitudes had changed toward them. One hun- dred or 47.2 percent of the wives believed that some change had taken place while 112 or 52.8 percent indi- 1. This evaluation is based upon observation at the time of coding, since the data were not treated ‘statistically. 2. -Becker,H.,gandeill,.R§,Fhmily Marriage and Parenthood, Boston, D.C.Heath, l9 ., p. . e Hus- band "may thoroughly resent the restrictions..." of pregnancy. 50 cated that they had noticed no change. 0f the 78 wives who responded to the second part of the question the greatest majority (93,6 percent) commented favorably. Only five of the wives remarked about some unfavorable aspect of their husbands' attitudes. These findings suggest that emotional maturity which is considered as necessary1 for parenthood, was present in.most of the marriages assuming that this indication of the husband's attitude is suggestive of marital adjustment. It is concluded the occurrence of pregnancy batters many inter- personal relationships, assuming the presence of emotional maturity and happiness in the marriage at the time of con- ception. Physical experiences of pregnancy It was found that over half (56.4 percent) of the wives believed that their health had not been affected during the pregnancy, while virtually one third (32.7 percent) of them indicated that their health was "better" during the pregnancy period. The wives‘ ratings of their health during pregnancy (as compared with health before pregnancy) appears in Table 21. 1. Op.cit., Becker and Hill, p. 458, "the advent of a child puts a severe strain upon the relation of im- mature partners from even the beginning of pregnancy." 51 Table 21. Percentage distribution of the wives according to their health during the pregnancy in comparison with health before pregnancy Rating of health Wives during pregnancy (Percent) "Same" . 56.4 "Better" 32.7 "Poorer" 10.9 Total cases 211 No response 1 Serious health problems The wives were also questioned as to whether or not they had had any serious health problems during the pregnancy period. The response to this question indicated that little difficulty was experienced in regard to complications. The greatest majority (169 or 80.0 percent of the wives) answered that they had ' no serious health problems during pregnancy, the re- maining 20.0 percent of the wives commenting that they had experienced such problems as thyroid conditions, overweight, and.anemih.. However, most of the latter wives remarked that they had received treatment which alleviated certain of their problems. The findings in regard to health suggest that for the most part the wives were in good physical condition and had few problems during the pregnancy period; 52 Nausea during pregnancy 0f the 207 wives Who indicated Whether or not they had experienced nausea during the first part of the pregnancy period, almost half (44.9 percent) ex- perienced it "frequently," and the majority of the group (76.6 percent) experienced it to some extent during this period.' Dr.Eastman remarks, "About one third of pregnant women suffer no nausea whatsoever. Another third, during the early part of pregnancy, experi- ence waves of nausea for a few hours in the morning. In the remaining third the nausea may'cause actual vomiting." ' ' The data indicate that the present group of wives were somewhat more subject to nausea than the "average" woman, considering Dr.Eastman's remark. The incidence of nausea during the early part of pregnancy follows: Table 22. Percentage distribution of the incidence of nausea during three stages of the pregnancy period Frequency of nausea Pregnancy Period as rated by wives lat M ddle LaSt part part part (Percent) "Frequently" 44.9 13.0 7.8 "Sometimes" 10.2 13.5 7.2 "Rarely" 21.7. 19.5 18.4 . "Never 23.2 54.0 66.6 Total cases 207 185 180 No response 5 27 32 It may be seen that an ever-increasing number of 1. Eastman, N., M.D., Expectant Motherhood, Boston, Little,Brown & 00., 1948, p.8. 55 the wives failed to answer this multiple question, luggesting that these persons may not have experi- enced nausea and therefore did not take the trouble to indicate this. If so, these cases might be con- sidered as "never" ratings, thus increasing the pro- portion of lack of nausea as the pregnancy progressed. Length of labor Because the pregnancy experience is difficult to isolate from the outcome--labor and birth of the child, several questions were included pertaining to these ex- periences. The response to the question which inquired as to length of labor indicated that for the most part the wives had experienced remarkably short labors, the average labor being from six to ten.hourstduration, with only 29 or 13.6 percent of the wives having had labors of more than 19 hours. Therefore it is concluded that the wives' labor periods were shorter than might be ex- pected considering the statement of one doctor Who re- marked that labor for women.having their first child "usually lasts from.sixteen to nineteen.hours." The distribution of the wives according to length of labor appears in the following table: 1. Greenhill,J.P., M.D., "The Birth of the Baby," Op.cit, Fishbein and Burgess, p. 268. 54 Table 23. Percentage distribution of the the wives according to number of hours in labor Hours in labor (Percent) Less than 6 23.3 6 - 10 5608 ll - 15 15.7 16 - 19 10.4 20 " 24 6.2 More than 24 7.6 Total cases 210 No response* 2 a:- Two of the wives had evidently not ex- perienced labor at the time they filled out the questionnaire. These persons were in- structed to wait until after childbirth be- fore answering all the questions, although it was apparent later that they did not. It is possible that the wives may have inter- preted the question regarding length of labor in various ways, considering the predominance of very short labors. Therefore, it is not concluded that the wives' responses refute the statement of a medi- ’cal man regarding this process; however, it is indi- cated that length of labor for a majority of the wives may have been considerably shorter than the average. 55 Emotional experiences during pregnanqy As was previously discussed, emotional upset during the period before pregnancy was quite common- among the wives in the sample. Almost half (43.7 percent) experienced such spells "frequently" or "sometimes" before pregnancy and the incidence of emotional upset for the group as a Whole increased markedly during pregnancy. The distribution of the wives according to their ratings of the incidence of emotional upset during the three parts of the pregnancy period appears in the following table: Table 24. Percentage distribution of the wives according to the incidence of emotional upset in three stages of the pregnancy period Rating of the incidence lst Middle Last of emotional upset Part Part Part of the pregnancy period (Percent) "Frequently" or "Sometimes" 56.2 44.2 47.9 "Rarely" or "Never" 43.8 55.8 52.1 Total cases - 201 191 196 No response 11 21 16 Worry_about the child The wives were asked.how much they had worried- during pregnancy about whether or not their child would be healthy and normal. The response to this 56 question reveals that over half (59.0 percent) of the wives had not worried at all, while only 11.3 percent indicated that they had worried a great deal. It is possible that the general educational level might be somewhat responsible for this lack of worry, since. according to one authority, worry is generally present in the minds of most pregnant women.1 Another medical man comments that, "Next to the fear of death the fear of delivering a deformed baby is the greatest one for pregnant women."2 The distribution of the wives accor- ding to the extent of their worry in respect to the health.and normality of the child appears below: Table 25. Percentage distribution of the wives according to the extent of worry about the child during pregnancy Rating of the extent (Percent) of worry about the child "A great deal" 11.3 "Somewhat" 29.7 "Not at all" ’ 59.0 Total cases 212 It is recognized that such a slight indication of worry might also be related to the fact that the wives are basing this subjective evaluation.upon their emotions in retrospect, and that the passage of time 1. Read, G.D., Childbirth Without Fear, New York, Harper Bros., 1944., p.44::m}..few, if any women... (experience pregnancy) without having at least some anxi- ety as to its outcome." 4 19%. Op.cit., Every WOman's Standard Medical Guide, P0 0 ' 5'7 may have obscured vivid recollection for many or even most of the wives. Fears about labor The wives were questioned as to whether or not they had any fears about labor and childbirth during the pregnancy period. From their indications, it appears that the majority (73.1 percent) had few or no fears, while only 5.2 percent of the wives admitted to having had many fears during pregnancy. Some of the wives commented as to the type of fears that they had. Examples of such comments follow: "A fewF-I knew better, but I was apprehensive;" "A few--fear of pain," and "I knew it would be a breech birth." Again it is con- ceded that the admission of fear and the rating may have been influenced by the recency of the pregnancy experi- ence. The distribution of the wives according to the incidence of fears about labor appears in the following table: Table 26. Percentage distribution of the wives according to the incidence of fears about labor and childbirth during the preg- nancy period Rating of fears (Percent) "Many" 5.2 "Some " 21.7 "Few" _ 36.3 "None" 36.8 Total cases 212 58 Worry_about expenses The wives were asked how much.they had worried about doctor and hospital expenses during the preg- nancy period. Their responses indicate that over half (59.0 percent) of the wives had no worries in this respect, While only 11.3 percent of them worried "a great deal." This finding suggests that the couples for the most part were financially prepared to meet the expenses of pregnancy. Some of the wives commented that their earnings and savings gave them security, while others remarked that they were prepared,having hospital insurance. Also, a few wives said that their financial worries did not begin until after the child had been born. This would seem logical since 140 of I the wives worked during the pregnancy period, while only 43 wives indicated that they had worked since the birth of the child.. The distribution of the wives according to the incidence of financial worries follows: Table 27. Percentage distribution of the wives accordingiso the incidence of worry about doctor and hospital expenses Rating of worry (Percent) "A great deal" 11.3 "SomeWhat" 29.7 "Not at all" 59.0 Total cases 212 59 Evaluation of experiences The wives were asked to evaluate the experiences of pregnancy and childbirth. These responses indicated that almost half (48.3 percent) of the wives believed that their pregnancies had been "easier" than their ex- pectations before pregnancy, While almost as many (43.0 percent) wives believed that their labor experiences were "less painful" than they had expected. Therefore the findings suggest that the expectations of both the pregnancy and labor experiences were regarded with more dread than was necessary for almost half the wives in the sample. Less than one-fourth (21.7 percent) of the wives believed that pregnancy had been more difficult than they had expected, and a few more (26.9 percent) indicated that labor had been.more painful than expected. The distribution of the wives according tb their evalu- ations of these experiences follows: Table 28. Percentage distribution of the wives according to their evaluations of the pregnancy experience as compared with expectations Evaluation of pregnancy (Percent) Easier than expected ‘ 48.3 About as expected 30.0 More difficult than expected 21.7 Total cases 203 No response 9 60 Table 29. Percentage distribution of the wives according to their evaluations of the labor experience as compared with expectations EValuation of labor (Percent) Less painful than expected 43.0 About as painful as expected 26.4 More painful than expected 26.9 Didn't know What to expect* 3.7 Total cases ' 212 * A few wives remarked that they had no ideas about the labor experience and could not evalu- ate their experience in this manner. Would you have_your child again? The wives were asked, "If you had it to do over again, would you have had your first child before your husband finished his schooling?" Their response to this question indicates the satisfaction of the group as a whole with their children. The majority (71.1 percent) of the wives apparently would plan to have a child (knowing the difficulties, etc.) while their hus- bands ccmpleted their education.) Of those who respon- ded negatively (28.9 percent), some indicated that they had had financial difficulties since the birth of their children. One wife remarked, "We really had to figure to make our money last;" another saying, "My husband works and it is too hard on him.to go to school and work too." However, other remarks suggest that finan- 61 cial difficulties were not always the reason behind the wife's preference to have delayed having a child. One wife commented that, "Pregnancy came before com- plete adjustment occurred," while another said, "Our. child came too soon after our marriage." Careers and the pursuit of education were inter- rupted in several instances. The wives who apparently were satisfied with their jobs made such comments as, "I had just advanced to a good secretarial position," while the wives who were going to school sometimes re- marked as to their regret; i.e., "I wanted to get my Master's degree." Such comments suggest that some of the wives were not completely satisfied to give up their interests and activities when unplanned pregnancy occurred. However, as was previously mentioned, the majority of the wives seem.to be very satisfied with family life and would not choose to avoid.having a child if theirs were the decision again. number of children wanted after pregnangz As further indication of the wives' satisfaction with their roles as wives and mothers, their response to another question is cited. .This question inquired as to the number of children wanted after the preg- nancy in comparison with previous plans for children. 62 It was found that the greatest majority (80.0 percent) of the wives wanted the same number of children, While only 17.5 percent indicated that they wanted fewer children. This proportion is of interest in view of the fact that almost half (46.5 percent) the wives previously indicated that they planned to have four or more children. The distribution of the wivesEiccording to their decisions about family size(after experiencing pregnancy) appears in the following table: Table 30. Percentage distribution of the wives according to their decisions about having children after their first preg- nancies Number of children wanted (Percent) in comparison with previous plans . Same number as before 80.0 Fewer children 17.5 More children ‘ 1 2.5 Total cases ‘ v 212 63 Chapter V ' Three Attitudes Toward Pregnancy Their Relation to Factors Contributing to Their Development Three attitudes toward pregnancy were discussed in the preceding chapter.1 These attitudes are presented here as they were found to be related to certain variables in the wives' backgrounds. The first of these three atti- tudes is represented by the group of 81 wives who indica- ted that they had tried to avoid pregnancy at the time of conception. The second attitude is represented by the group of 55 wives who indicated that they had neither tried to avoid nor planned their pregnancies, while the third attitude is represented by those 76 wives who indicated that they had planned their pregnancies. The ensuing discussion will delineate possible dif- ferences in the cultural backgrounds of these three groups: their parental families, childhood residence, educational level; in their roles at the time of conception: employ- ment and enrollment status of the wives; and in other per- sonal variables such as health at the time of conception, miscarriage history, age and the occurrence of the preg- nancy in relation to length of time married. 1. See discussion Pp. 43-45. 64 Size of parental family When parental family size was compared with atti- tude toward pregnancy it was found that there was a slight trend1 for more only children to have taken an indifferent attitude2 toward becoming pregnant than did those coming from larger families. This finding suggests that these wives may not have had a strong bias toward pregnancy-~either positive or negative since they had not experienced family life among other children and.may not have been conditioned to regard having children as essential to happiness or as burden, Which concepts may have been influential in the development of strong posi- tive or negative emotions toward pregnancy. As for those wives coming from.smmll (2-3 children) families, it was found that they were somewhat more likely to have tried to avoid pregnancy than did either of the other groups from.smaller or larger families. A.negative attitude toward having children seems logical for these wives when the influence of family patterns and early conditioning is considered.3 It is possible that these wives coming from.small families may have intended to pattern their own families accordingly, waiting until the husband had completed his education before beginning 1. Not statistically significant. 2. These wives neither tried to avoid nor planned their pregnancies. 3. Op.cit., Burgess and Locke, p.233. 65 to have children. The wives who came from large (four or more children) families were, as might be expected somewhat more likely to have planned their first pregnancies than did those from smaller families. Hewever, it will be seen in the following table that just as many wives from large families were trying to avoid pregnancy as were trying to become pregnant, which.suggests that coming from a large family may re- sult in positive as well as negative viewpoints in re- spect to having children, depending upon the individual's satisfaction with.family life as a child. The differences shown in Table 31. are not great; therefore it is not concluded that the size of parental family is a strong influence in the subsequent attitude toward having a child while the husband completed his education; however, the trends suggest that there may be some relationship between early cultural conditioning and later attitude toward having children. Table 31. Relationship between parental family size and the wives‘ attitudes toward pregnancy Attitude toward Parental family size pregnancy 1 Child 2-3 Children 4 and Chiigre (Percent) re" Tried to avoig. . 32.2 41.3 36.8 "Didn't care"“ 32.2 23.7 26.4 Planned 35.6 35.0 36.8 Total cases 28 97 87 * This classification has been used for brevity to indicate those wives who neither tried to avoid nor planned their pregnancies. 66 The relationship between parental family size and the number of children desired by the wife is presented rather than a threefold variable including also attitude toward pregnancy. This compromise was necessary considering the small number of cases Which would have resulted had three factors been compared. Table 32. Relationship between parental family size and the number of children planned by the wives Number of children Number of children in planned parental family One Two-Three Four and re (Percent) me One or two ' 21.4 15.4 19.7 Two or three 25.0 37.1 26.7 Fbur or more 46.4 43.4 48.9 Undecided or none "planned" 7.2 4.1 4.7 Total cases 28 97 86 No response 1 An examination of Table 32. reveals that there is a slight trend for each group to be most represented in the classification paralleling own family size, al- though it is apparent that virtually half the wives from each size parental family would like to have large fami- lies themselves. It is possible that these differences, although slight, represent the effects of cultural con- 67 ditioning, as was previously suggested in regard to attitude and parental family size. In summary, it appears that there is a positive relationship between Tables 31. and 32. or that par- ental family size influences to some extent both atti- tude toward pregnancy and the number of children planned. It may be seen that the largerithe parental family the more likely the wives were to have planned their first pregnancies and to have wanted four or more children themselves. Childhood residence The childhood residence of the wives was investi- gated in order to determine whether wives raised in smaller communities or rural areas differed in their attitude toward having a child from.those wives who were raised in urban communities during their formative years. The findings suggest that there is a trend for those wives who lived in the "country" to have planned their pregnancies more often than those who lived else- where as children; for those who came from"small towns" to have been more likely to have taken an indifferent ‘ attitude toward pregnancy; and for those wives from "city" backgrounds to have greater representation among the wives Who indicated that they had tried to avoid pregnancy. 68. The relationship between childhood residence and subsequent attitude toward pregnancy appears below: Table 33. Relationship between childhood resi- dence and the wives' attitudes toward pregnancy Attitude toward Childhood residence pregnancy "Country" "Small town" "City" (Percent) Tried to avoid 37.5 33.7 43.6 Didn't care 25.0. 33.7 19.6 Planned . 37.5 32.0 36.8 Total cases* 40 83 87 "Two wives did not respond to the question regar- ding childhood residence. An examination of the proportions in Table 33.. reveals that the difference between the prOportions of "city" and "small town" wives Who didn't care whether or not they became pregnant is significant at the five' percent level, indicating that the wives who were raised in the city were far less likely to take an indifferent attitude toward pregnancy than were those wives who lived in less crowded residential areas. Also, it may be seen that the differences are slight between country and small town residence in respect to both posi- tive and negative attitudes, there being little variation in the proportions shown. This latter similarity suggests 69 that small town and country residence may have been essentially the same as far as influence is concerned, which fact could be accounted for considering that larger families are more easily accommodated in less crowded residential areas, and that childhood residence in less urban communities may have been related to parental family size as well. Therefore it is concluded that al- though the differences are not great, there is a con- sistent trend for attitude toward pregnancy to be re- lated to the apparent conditions of childhood residence: the smaller the pOpulation of the community or residen- tial area, the more favorable the attitude toward having a child. Educational background When educational level is compared with the wife's attitude toward pregnancy it is found that higher edu- cation is less related to planning of pregnancy under the circumstances of the husband continuing his educa- tion than is lower education and secondary schooling. The difference between these two groups1 was found to be significant at the five percent level which fact suggests the strength of the difference in attitude be- tween these two groups of wives in respect to the desire l. The group with "higher" education includes all those wives who indicated they had had one or more years of college; the group with less education includes all those having attended school as far as four years of high 8 Ch001o 7O to have a child while their husbands completed their education. It is probable that those wives with more education were also more interested in continuing their own education or working outside the home than were those with less training and/or interest in these activities. The relationship between educational level and attitude toward pregnancy appears in the following table: Table 34. Relationship between educational level and the wives' attitudes toward pregnancy Attitude toward ~ Educational level pregnancy High school One or more and below years of college (Percent) Tried to avoid 31.4 44.5 Didn't care 24.5 27.3 Planned _ 44.1 28.2 Total caSes 102 110 Employment status Employment of the wives appears to have a somewhat negative relationship to positive attitude or planning of pregnancy, since for the most part those wives who worked outside the home did not plan their children, al- most one-half of them indicating that they had tried tO' avoid pregnancy. This relationship appears in Table.36. 71 Enrollment status It was found that an even greater proportion of those wives Who were enrolled in school tried to avoid pregnancy than did those who worked outside the home. This finding suggests that the pursuit of education was of greater personal interest and stimulation than was working outside the home. Many of the wives com- mented upon the importance of school to them--saying, "I love school and 1earning--I intend to take some courses when the children are older," and "I'd like to keep up with.my husband and increase my knowledge in practical fields;" also, "Would like to retain cultural background acquired before marriage which is slowly being lost because of lack of opportunity and/or time." On the other hand, many of the wives who worked remarked that the were "glad to quit and be home," etc.. that they did not find it difficult to manage after quitting their jobs and that they wanted to quit permanently, "as I think after you have a child, your place is in the home." The predominance of such remarks as the latter-suggests that most of the wives may have worked more to earn money to help support the couple than because of any deep in- terest in a career, although it is recognized that a few 72 of the wives may have been most interested in their occupations, since it was indicated that 19 of the wives had undergone professional nurse's training, most of them indicating that theyxwere graduate nurses working at the time of conception. The distribution of the wives according to their roles1 and attitudes at the time of conception appears in the following table: Table 35. Relationship between the wives' roles at the time of conception and their attitude toward pregnancy ‘— Attitude toward Role of the wife pregnancy Employed In school Neither (Percent) Tried to avoid 41.8 60.7 11.6 Didn't care 23.4 2105 5702 Planned ‘ 34.8 17.8 51.2 Total cases 141 28 43 An examination of Table 35. reveals that the differ- ence between the proportions of those wives who worked and those who were enrolled in school and planned their pregnancies is significant at the five percent level, as is the difference between these groups in respect to avoidance of pregnancy. Also, it may be seen that the difference between those wives who were neither working nor enrolled in school and those wives who worked is sig- 1. See discussion, Pp. 34-35.- 73 nificant at the sane level. Therefore it is con- cluded that the wife's enrollment in school was most related to attempted avoidance of pregnancy with em- ployment of next importance, while lack of either ac- tivity on the part of the wife was most related to positive planning of pregnancy. health status The health factor was considered of importance in relation to attitude toward having children. One author remarks, "When a couple is ready for a child the first step is to make sure of the physical condi- tion of the wife." The relationship between health at the thne of conception and the wife’s attitude toward pregnancy appears in the following table:' Table 36. Relationship between health at the time of conception and attitude toward pregnancy Attitude toward Wives' health rating pregnancy Excellent-Good Faieroor (Percent) Tried to atoid 36.7 52.4 Didn't care 27.7 9.5 Planned 35.6 38.1 Total cases 191 21 An examination of Table 36. reveals that there is a slight relationship between fair or poor health and l. Op.cit., Butterfield, p. 126. 74 avoidance of pregnancy. Since over half of the wives who had poor health were trying to avoid pregnancy, it is suggested that this may have been a major reason for their attitude toward having a child at the time of con- ception. However, it is apparent that eight (38.1 percent) of the wives planned to have a child in spite of the fact that they were in poor health. This proportion is mis- leading in view of the trichotomous distribution, for if avoidance of pregnancy is compared with lack of avoidance (cembining the more permissive attitudes of definite planning and not caring one way or the other), it may be seen that a far greater proportion (63.3 percent) of those wives with good health did not try to avoid preg- nancy, while less than half (47.6 percent) of those wives with.poor had such a permissive outlook. Therefore it is~eoncluded that good health is somewhat more related to~a positive outlook regarding having a child, while poor health is more often related to avoidance of preg- nancy. Miscarriage history_ Although few (17) wives had previous miscarriages before their first full-term pregnancies, it appears that few of these wives actually planned their pregnancies, while over half (53.0 percent) of them.tried to ayoid pregnancy at the time of conception. Therefore it seems 75 that miscarriage history has approximately the same influence or relationship with avoidance of pregnancy as does poor'health, since slightly over half the wives having had poor health and/or miscarriages were trying to keep from having a child at the time of conception. The relationship between.miscarriage history and atti- tude toward pregnancy appears in the following table: Table 37. Relationship between previous mis- carriages and the wives' attitudes toward preg- nancy Attitude toward Previous No previous pregnancy miscarriages Miscarriages (Percent) Tried to avoid '53.0 36.8 Didn't care ' 29.4 25.4 Planned 17.6 37.8 Total cases 17 193 ”Two of the wives did not respond to this question. When Tables 36. and 37. are compared it will be seen that the more permissive attitudes toward pregnancy (and especially positive planning) are related to good health at the time of conception and the absence of pre- vious miscarriages, therefore it is concluded that physi- cal condition may well influence the decision to have a child. 76 Age at marriagg In addition to the health factor it has been suggested by one authority that readiness for mother- hood should also be considered. Such readiness often involves age at the time of marriage. For instance, "A teen-age girl is rarely sufficiently grown up her- self to sincerely want a baby....(while) theoolder wcman likewise faces emotional difficulties in rela- ting herself to her first baby,"]say these authors. When age at marriage is compared with attitude toward pregnancy it is found that those wives Who were twenty-two years of age or younger2 were more likely to have tried to avoid pregnancy thanhere those wives twenty-three years of age or older. This difference is significant above the one percent level. Therefore it is concluded that age at marriage strongly influences decision to have a child or to avoid having a child for awhile. This relationship may be seen in Table 38. It may be seen also that the factor of occurrence ’ of pregnancy in relation to marriage has not been held constant in this comparison. This triple relationship 1. Op.cit., Duvall and Hill, p. 306. 2. This dichotomy was adapted from the more exten- sive breakdown shown in Table 8., p. 24. when it was found that this cleavage was represented in the distribution of cases regarding attitude toward pregnancy. 77 was not presented because of the small number of cases. representing the three—way comparisons; however, it was found that age at conception.: was essentially the sane for about two-thirds of the wives (62.6 percent) as their age at the time of marriage since this prOportion con- ceived by the end of the first year of marriage. The relationship between age and attitude toward pregnancy and age and the occurrence of pregnancy appear below: Table 38. Relationship between age at the time of marriage and attitude toward pregnancy Attitude toward Wife's age at marriage pregnancy 22 years and 23 years and .- younger older (Percent) Tried to avoid 46.5 19.7 Didn't care 13.7 53.0 Planned 39.8 27.3 Total cases 146 66 Table 39. Relationship between the wife's age at marriage and the occurrence of pregnancy Occurrence of Wife's age at marriage pregnancy 22 years and 23 years and ~ younger older (Percent) By'the end of the first year of marriage 64.4 56.9 After one or more years of marriage . 35.6 43.1 Total cases ' 161 51 78 In summary, it may be seen that 60.2 percent of the younger wives did not plan their pregnancies and that 64.4 percent of this group became pregnant by the end of their first year of marriage, These facts suggest that there may well be a psychological barrier related to age and length of time married, which.must be overcome before young women decide to have their first child. It is generally recognized that the newly married couple should have some time to become adjustnd to each other and their marital roles befbre assuming the responsibilites and additional problems of parenthood. One author comments, "A period of ini- tial marital adjustment then, prior to undertaking a first pregnancy is almost always desirable."1 It is highly probable that many of the wives were not ready to accept motherhood at the time of conception, then, which fact might affect their later attitudes and experiences-~during and since the pregnancy period. The relationship between previous attitude toward preg- nancy and the emotional and physical patterns during pregnancy will be considered in the following chapter in order to determine whether or not there is any appar- ent relationship between actual planning of children (in contrast with avoidance or indifference) and the physical and emotional patterns investigated. 1. Op.cit., Fishbein and Burgess, p.222. 79 Chapter VI Three Attitudes Toward Pregnancy Their Relation to the Pregnancy EXperience The three attitudes toward pregnancy which were discussed in Chapters IV and V have been investigated in order to determine the effect they may have had upon the pregnancy experience and the attitudes of the wives during and since that period. Reaction to pregnancy_ Of those wives who planned their pregnancies, the greatest majority (89.2 percent) expressed happiness, only, as a reaction to the knowledge of pregnancy, while less than.half (42.6 percent) of those wives Who tried to avoid pregnancy expressed this emotion. These differences appear in the following table: Table 40. Relationship between the wife's attitude toward pregnancy and reaction to the knowledge of pregnancy Reaction to pregnancy Attitude toward pregnancy Tried to Didn't Planned avoid care (Percent) Happy v 42.6 61.9 89.2 Worried; 28.7 25.4 10.8 Unhappy, 28.7 12.7 0 Total casesl so 54 76 * These categories include respectively all comments statin worr and a iness he latter combinin also t ose cgses of 'iggignant," etc. reactions. g 1. Two wives did not respond to this question. 80 An examination of Table 40. reveals the consistency of the trend toward happiness the more positive or per- missive the attitude toward pregnancy, and conversely the greater the incidence of worry and unhappiness the more negative the attitude toward having a child. These 1 differences were found to be highly significant. Marital happiness Reaction to pregnancy is closely related to the wife's evaluation of the happiness of the marriage. About three-fourths (73.0 percent) of the wives who rated their marriage as "very happy" also indicated that they had been "happy" at the knowledge of pregnancy, while slightly more than half (51.8 percent) of the wives Who rated their marriages as "average" or below in happiness commented that they had been unhappy, worried, indignant, etc. at the knowledge of pregnancy, These differences were found to be very significant, although it is conceded that the proportion of wives in the un- happy group consists of few cases upon which to generalize. Table 41. reveals the slight but consistent trend for -happiness in marriage to be relatedvvith happiness at the knowledge of pregnancy. l. The difference between the proportions of wives who planned their pregnancies and those who tried to avoid pregnancy is significant at the one percent level, 81 Table 41. Relationship between wives' ratings of marital happiness and their reactions to the know- ledge of pregnancy Reaction to ‘ Marital happiness rating pregnancy Very happy Happy Average and ' (Percent) below Happy ' 73.0 53.5 48.2 ‘4? Total cases 126 58 27 * One wife did not respond to this question. The proportions illustrated in the above table suggest that the marital happiness rating "happy," is essentially the same evaluation as "average" or below in.happiness--at least in respect to the pattern of reaction to pregnancy, since there was apparently little difference between these groups in their emotions con- cerning pregnancy. The "happy" rating was probably largely affected by the wife's desire to conform to the approved concept of marriage, and therefore this rating has been combined with those ratings of "average" and be- low in happiness, since essentially all of them represent varying degrees of dissatisfaction when compared with those wives Who rated their marriages as highly as they could by indicating thatthengere "very happy." 82 Attitude, marital happiness and reaction togpregnancy By combining the marital happiness ratings into the two previously discussed groups and comparing those wives Who were apparently very satisfied with their marriages with those who were to some extent dissatis- fied as they had viewed pregnancy, and with their emo- tional reactions to the knowledge of conception, it was found that the highest incidence of happiness as a re- action to pregnancy occurred as a result of positive planning among those "very happy" wives. Also, it was found that the highest incidence of unhappiness and/or worry occurred as a result of attempted avoidance of pregnancy on the part of those wives who were less satis- fied with their marriages. These relationships appear in the following table: Table 42. Relationship between marital happiness, attitude toward pregnancy and reaction to the know- ledge of conception The prOportion of happy reactions (Percent) No.of at the knowledge of conception cases Among’those wives Who ratéd'their marriages as "very happy": But who tried to avoid pregnancy 52.2 46 Who didn't care 71.4 28 Who planned their pregnancies 92.3 52 The roggrtion of unhappy reactions(Percent) No.of at t e owledge of conception cases Among those wives Who rated‘their marriages a: less happy: And Who ried to avoid pregnancy 70.6 34 Who didn't care 48. 27 Who planned their pregnancies 16. 24 QM 83 The husband's attitude toward his wife Although slightly more than half (52.8 percent) of the wives in the total sample indicated that they had noticed no change in their husbands' attitudes toward them after the onset of pregnancy, it was found that there was a slight trend toward this stability of attitude among the husbands of wives Who planned their pregnancies. This would seem logical for this group since it is assumed that mutual agreement to parenthood was present before pregnancy, leaving less chance for these husbands to develOp either unfavorable attitudes toward their wives or any sudden increase in solicitude or happiness. There was found to be an increase in happiness how% ever, on the part of the husbands whose wives had previ- ously been indifferent to pregnancy. A greater propor- tion of the wives who "didn't care" whether or not they became pregnant also remarked that they had noticed a favorable change in their husbands' attitudes than did the other groups, although this was not a significant difference. Although only five wives commented that their hus- bands' attitudes had changed unfavorably toward them, four of these persons also admitted that they had tried to avoid 84 pregnancy. However, the number of cases does not lend itself to statistical treatment, but this incidence of unfavorable attitude combined with avoidance of preg- nancy suggests that disharmony may result when the couple is not ready for parenthood. The relationship between the wife's attitude toward pregnancy and the husband's attitude toward her appears in the following table: Table 43. Relationship between the wife's atti- tude toward pregnancy and the husband's attitude toward the wife after the onset of pregnancy Incidence and/or Wife's attitude toward type of change in pregnancy husband's attitude Tried to Didn't Planned toward his wife avoid 'care (Percent) No change in attitude 53.1 52.6 54.6 Changed favorably 42.0 47.4 44.0 Changed unfavorably ‘ 4.9 0 1.4 Total cases 81 55 75 No response . O O l Since none of the above proportions represent sig- nificant differences, it is concluded that the relation- ship discussed may not be exceedingly strong for any of the groups representing these attitudes toward pregnancy. However, it is possible that there may be some effect upon the husband's attitude related to lack of planning, these wives being somewhat more likely to have noticed a change than did those wives who had previously planned their pregnancies. 85 Health during pregnangy It was previously shown that those wives with poor health were more likely to have tried toavoid pregnancy than were those with good health; also, that essentially the same proportion of wives with good health were trying to avoid pregnancy as had planned their preg- nancies. These findings suggest that attitude and pre- vious health condition.might be related to health during the pregnancy period. Therefore the following tables have been presented to illustrate such patterns in health:. The first of these tables shows the relationship between previous good health and attitude toward pregnancy and patterns of health during pregnancy. Table 44. Relationship between previous good health, attitude toward pregnancy and health during pregnancy . Attitude toward Health patterns of wives pregnancy with previous good health Same or better Poorer health health (Percent) Tried to avoid 36.1 43.8 Didn't care 27.2 31.2 Planned 36.7 25.0 Total cases* 175 16 "Based on a sample of 191 cases of good health. An examination of Table 44. reveals that there may be a slight tendency for negative attitude toward preg- 86 nancy and poor health at the time of conception to be related to poorer health during pregnancy, although the variance in proportions is too small for signifi- cance. It is possible that previous mental attitude may have been a causal factor in respect to poorer health during pregnancy, although this is unlikely since it is apparent that a majority of the wives whose poor health improved during pregnancy were those who had pre- viously tried to avoid pregnancy. The relationship be- tween previons poor health and attitude with the resul- ting health during pregnancy appears below: Table 45. Relationship between previous poor health, attitude toward pregnancy and health during pregnancy ' Attitude toward Health patterns of wives pregnancy with previous poor health Same or poorer Better health health (Percent) Tried to avoid O 73.3 Didn't care 16.5 6.? Planned 83.5 20.0 Total oasea* 6 15 Based on a sample of 21 cases. In conclusion, it seems evident that there may have been a certain leavening in the health of the wives in the total sample during the pregnancy period--some of 87 them.improving in health, others believing that they had not been as well as before. It is possible that the physical discomforts of pregnancy may have varied to such an extent as to have given rise to the differ- ence in evaluation which was found between those wives with good health and those with poor health who had tried to avoid pregnancy. However, divergent changes in health patterns were not as great for wives who had previous good health as they were for wives who had pre- vious poor health, and finally, there appears to be no consistent trend for attitude toward pregnancy to have been related to health patterns during pregnancy. Serious health problems The relationship between attitude toward pregnancy and the incidence of serious health problems during pregnancy appears in the following table: Table 46. Relationship between attitude toward pregnancy and the indication of serious health problems by the wives ‘ Indication of serious Attitude toward pregnancy health problems Tried to Didn't Planned avoid care (Percent) "Yes" 23.5 18.2 18.2 "No" 76,5 81.8 81.8 Total cases 81 55 76 It may be seen in_Tab1e 46. that there is a slight but insignificant trend for those wives who tried to avoid 88 pregnancy to have been more likely to have had serious health problems. This finding parallels that previously discussed in respect to the avoidance of pregnancy as compared with previous poor health,las well as with the relationship between previous good health and the subsequent health patterns during pregnancy? In con- clusion, then, it appears as if there might be a slight relationship between the desire to avoid pregnancy and poor health during pregnancy, including serious health problems, although the psychosomatic pattern is not con- sistent in respect to other attitudes toward pregnancy. Nausea during pregnancy Although frequent nausea during the early part of pregnancy appears to have been common among all the groups, there seems to be a slight trend for more fre- quent nausea to have been experienced by those wives who had a negative attitude toward pregnancy, especially during the middle and last parts of the pregnancy period. This trend suggests (since nausea during this period is not common) that there may be a causal relationship be- tween previous attitude and nausea. However, the differ- ences in proportions are not significant so it is not 1. See discussion Pp. 74-75. 2. See Table 440, p. 860 89 concluded that unfavorable attitude toward pregnancy is entirely responsible for the higher incidence of nausea that occurred among those wives who had not planned their pregnancies. The relationship between attitude toward pregnancy and the incidence of nausea appears in the following table: Table 47. Relationship between attitude toward pregnancy and the incidence of nausea during three stages of the pregnancy period Rating of the in- Attitude toward pregnancy cidence of nausea Tried to Didn't Planned the first part of avoid care pregnancy period (Percent) Frequently-Sometimes 55.0 54.H' 55.4 Rarely-Never 45.0 .45.3 44.6 Total cases 80 53 74 No response 1 ' 2 2 Rating of incidence of nausea the middle (Percent) part of pregnancy a A Frequently-Sometimes 30.0 25.0 23.4 Rarely-Never ~70.0 75.0 76.6 Total cases 70 52 64 No response 11 3 12 Rating of incidence of nausea the last (Percent) part of pregnancy ' .Freqaently-Sometimes 17.8 15.7 11.3 Rarely-Never 82.2 84.3 88.7 Total cases 67 51 62 No response 14 4 l4 90 Length of labor The labor patterns of the three groups do not show a statistically significant relationship to pre- vious attitude toward pregnancy, although there is a slight trend for those who planned their pregnancies to have experienced (as a group) somewhat longer periods of labor than did the other wives. This phenomenon.may be the result of numerous unknown variables, although it was not found to be related to two suggested variables: age or experiences of the wives' mothers in regard to difficulty they may have experienced during labor. It is possible that actual planning of pregnancy may have caused many of the wives to worry unduly about the out- come of pregnancy. This tendency,.if present, may have prolonged their labors, if the remarks of one prominent obstetrician are true. Dr. Grantly Dick Read comments that"the natural tension produced by fear influences these muscles which close the womb and prevent the child from.being driven out during childbirth."1 11‘ this is true, and his explanation is highly logical, the possible anxieties in the minds of those wifes who planned their pregnancies may have had a decided bearing upon physical and mental relaxation Which affects duration of labor. 1. Op.cit., Read, p. 6. '91 The relationship between attitude toward pregnancy and length of labor appears below: Table 48. Relationship between attitude toward pregnancy and length of labor NUmber of.hours Attitude toward pregnancy in labor Tried to Didn't Planned avoid care (Percent) Less than 11 60.7 61.2 60.5 11 - 19 26.6 25.9 24.6 20 or more 12.7 12.9 15.1 Total cases 79 54 73 No response 2 l 3 Emotional experiences When attitude toward pregnancy was compared_with the incidence of emotional upset during pregnancy it was found that there were apparent differences between the groups. Although it is recognizedthat a certain "heightening of tension"; takes place at the onset of pregnancy and that such tension is related to physio- logical changes, the findings in respect to patterns of emotional upset suggest that instability of emotion- al balance may be related to previous attitude toward having a child. The comparisons between attitude toward pregnancy and the incidence of emotional upset appear in the following table: 92 Table 49. Relationship between attitude toward pregnancy and the incidence of emotional upset (as rated by the wives) during five periods of marriage ' Incidence of Attitude toward pregnancy emotional upset Tried to Didn't Planned avoid care (Percent) Period before the first pregnancy Frequently-Sometimes 45.7 57.5 48.5 Rarely-Never 56.5 62.5 51.5 Total cases 78 48 66 No response 5 7 10 First part of pregnancy Frequently-Sometimes 65.4 50.0 50.6 Rarely-Never 54.6 50.0 49.4 Total cases 78 52 71 No response 5 5 5 Middle part of pregnancy - Frequently-Sometimes 44.5 51.0 58.8 Rarely-Never 55.7 49.0 61.2 Total cases ; 79 51 67 N5 response 2 .H 4 9 Last part of pregnancy Frequently-Sometimes 48.7 51.0 45.0 Rarely-Never 51.5 49.0 55.0 Total cases 76 51 69 No response 5 4 7 Period since the birth of the child - Frequently-Sometimes 47.5 56.6 44.0 Total cases 80 55 66 No response 1 ‘ 2 10 93 An examination of Table 49. reveals that for the most part the differences in prOportion in respect to attitude and emotional upset are slight, however cer- tain tendencies are apparent when each attitude is con- sidered in relation to the pattern of emotional upset in each of these periods. The differences between the groups in each period will be discussed briefly, and the graphic relationship between emotional patterns for the respective groups appears subsequently. Period before first pregnangy The data in Table 49. indicate that there is a slight tendency for indifferent attitude to be related to less frequent emotional upset in the period before the first pregnancy. This relationship seems possible considering the smaller prOportion of wives who were employed or going to school among this group. It is possible that the responsibilities entailed in the per- formance of dual roles might serve as a basis for greater tension and nervousness causing emotional upset. Also, it is suggested that those wives who worked outside the home did so toaugmmnt family income which would naturally be curtailed with the advent of pregnancy. If so, it is probable that they might regard pregnancy with fear 1. See Chart 1., p. 99. 94 and be more tense than those wives who would not have to give up the "occupations which had meant pleasure, exercise or livelihood,"1 as one author suggests. As for those wives who were trying to effect conception, planning their pregnancies, it is possible that they were too concerned about the possibility that they could not have a child, and hence were subject to fre- quent emotional upset. First part of pregnancy If the patterns of emotional upset during the first part of pregnancy are considered in relation to the in- cidence of emotional upset before pregnancy some signifi- cant patterns may be seen. A very significant increase in emotional upset occurred in the group Which had tried to avoid pregnancy, with somewhat less increase5 among those wives who had been indifferent tp pregnancy, with a great deal less increase within the group which had planned their pregnancies. These relationships appeafi in Chart 1 o 1. Op.cit., Read, p. ;60. 2. Significant above the one percent level. 5. Significant below the ten percent level. 95 Middle part of pregnangy An examination of the patterns of emotional upset during the middle.part of pregnancy reveals that the peak in emotional upset had been reached by those wives who had strong-intent (either positive or negative) to- ward pregnancy, while those wives who had been somewhat indifferent to having a child continued to have a higher incidence of emotional upset (as a group) than they had previously experienced in the first part of pregnancy. It may be seen that the proportion of wives having emo- tional upset who had triedto avoid pregnancy decreased significantly from.the first to the middle period of pregnancy.1 Also, it may be seen that the incidence of frequent emotional upset for those wives who planned to have a child dropped even belofiz the degree of incidence before pregnancy. These findings suggest that the wives were able to regain or surpass previous emotional balance after the initial period of pregnancy, regardless of whether their attitude had been strongly positive or negative. The fact that those wives who had been indifferent to preg- nancy continued to experience more emotional upset than less after the initial period of pregnancy seems to indi- cate that indifference may be related to other problems of adjustment pertaining to lack of planning --either posi- 1. This decrease was found to be significant above the one percent level. 2. The range being small this was not found to be significant at the ten percent level. 96 tive or negative. Last part of pregnangy Again, in the last part of the pregnancy period those wives representing strong negative and positive attitudes toward planning children appear to have ex- perienced the same slight increase1 in emotional upset as might be expected during a period often characterized by physical discomfort and mental tension. Also, those wives the had previously been indifferent to pregnancy were subject to somewhat more emotional upset than the 2 other groups. Period since the birth of the child The data in respect to attitude as related to emo- tional upset in the period since birth indicate that there is a decided relationshipsbetween early attitude and later tendency toward frequent emotional upset. The favorable relationship between positive planning of children is especially clear in respect to emotional up- set during this period. In summary, When the incidence of frequent emotional upset is compared with attitude toward pregnancy, it is apparent that early indifference toward having a child is most unfavorably related to emotional stability,oihile 1. Not statistically significant. . 2. This was not a significant difference. 5. This was not found to be significant. 97 positive planning for pregnancy is most favorable to emotional stability. The increase in emotional tension which is apparently very commonlduring the pregnancy period appears to be somewhat higher after childbirth than before pregnancy among those wives who did not plan their pregnancies. Also, it may be seen that the high- est incidence of frequent emotional upset is related to early indifference toward having a child rather thanLto negative planning or avoidance of pregnancy at the time of conception. Finally, it may be seen that planning for pregnancy appears to have the most favorable rela- tionship with emotional adjustment or stability after the birth of the first child, thus confirming the bene- fits of planned parenthood as far as the wives' emotion- al upset is concerned. Fears in relation to attitude Although there appears to be less variance in the incidence of frequent emotional upset for those wives who planned their pregnancies, a less favorable relation- ship is illustrated in respect to positive planning and the incidence of fears about labor and childbirth. This relationship appears in the following table: 1. Ellis, Havelock, Studies ig the Psycholggy of Sex, Vol.11, Part I, Random.House, New York, l956,Pp.209-211. 98 Percent indicating frequent emotional upset Chart 1. Percentage of wives who had frequent emotional upset during five periods of marriage as related to their attitudes toward pregnancy 60 50 40 30 20 10 .F‘ FF» — ‘Fl _ Ffih" HI— ”—1 ‘ ‘i r -p .d -P .q +3 .d 251..” ”534:2 ”34:11 459134: agiH-H finch-H 9c 63.0 94 (DD 9: Inn 0 094 (D 091 0 09¢ H-Pr-l 0 H-Pg 0 MPH O 001'de 00) PO OID'U-PO Eflfimfl “63'“‘35 “6313“5 mngm mhgfilm mil-03930) Attitudes toward pregnancy Tried to Didn't Planned avoid care ,1. The period before pregnancy, the three periods of the pregnancy and the period since birth 99 Table 50. Relationship between attitude toward pregnancy and the incidence of fear about labor Rating of fears Attitude toward pregnancy by the wives Tried to Didn't Planned avoid care (Percent) Many-Some 21.5 27.5 29.0 Few~"“‘ 34.2 45.6 56.8 None _ 44.5 29.1 34.2 Total cases 79 55 76 No response 2 It may be seen in the above table that there is a trend toward more fears the more pOSitive the atti- tude toward having a child. This phenomenon may be the result of possible anxiety accompanying planning as was previously suggested, or it may be a characteristic of the lower educational level which is most represented a by the by the group who planned their pregnancies. Worry about the child 'When previous attitude and worry about the child being healthy and normal are compared, it may be seen that planning for pregnancy is most a3sociated with no worry in contrast to avoidance which is related to the highest incidence of"a great deal" of worry. These patterns may be seen in the following table: 100 Table 51. Relationship between attitude toward pregnancy and worry about the child being healthy and normal Incidence and/or Attitude toward pregnancy extent of worry Tried to Didn't Planned about the child avoid care (Percent) "A great deal" 18.5 12.7 7.8 "SomeWhat" ' 56.8 58.2 61.9 "Not at all" 24.7 29.1 50.3 Total cases 81 55 75 Since none of the differences illustrated in the above table is statistically significant, it is con- cluded that although there may be a slight relation- ship between previous attitude (especially avoidance of pregnancy) and fears during pregnancy it should not be assumed that any attitude is causal, since slightly over half the wives in each attitude group remarked that had feared for the child's health and normality "some- What? Relationship between fears When fears about labor are compared with fearszibout the child it is apparent that regardless of previous atti- tude toward having a child, those persons who had a great many fears about labor are essentially the same group as those who had fears about the child's health.and normality. This relationship is illustrated in the following table: 101 Table 52. Relationship between fears about labor and childbirth and fears about the child being healthy and normal Fiar about the Fears about labor child Many-Some Few-None (Percent) "A great deal" or ' ' "Somewhat" 83.4 67.9 "Not at all" 16.6 52.1 Total cases 54 156 No response . l l he difference'between the proportions shown in the above table is significant at the five percent level; therefore, it is concluded that patterns of fearciuring pregnancy are more likely to be related than to occur as isolates, suggesting also that related anxieties are to some extent associated with previous attitude toward pregnancy, as was indicated in the two preceding tables. Financial worry An investigation of the relationship between the previous attitude toward pregnancy and the incidence of financial worries reveals that_there is a very signifi- cant differencelbetween the proportion of wives who plan- ned their pregnancies and experienced no worry and those who had tried to avoid pregnancy and experienced no worry. 1. Significant above the one percent level. 102 The relationship between attitude toward pregnancy and the incidence and/or extent of worry about finances appears in the following table: Table 55. Relationship between attitude to- ward pregnancy and the incidence and/or ex- tent of worry about finances Wives' rating of Attitude toward pregnancy worry about fin- Tried to Didn't Planned ances avoid care (Percent) "A great deal" or "Somewhat” 48.8 47.5 29.0 "Not at all" 51.2 52.7 71.0 Total cases 80 55 76 No response 1 The relationship illustrated by Table 55. indi- cates strongly that planning for pregnancy is associ- ated with lack of worry about expenses in contrast to the higher incidence of worry experienced by those wives whose pregnancies were unplanned. 105 Happiness and the pregnancy. The wives were asked to rate their happiness during each of three parts of the pregnancy period and the period since the birth of their first child as well as their overall marital happiness. These ratings were compared with the wife's attitude toward having a child in order to determine Whether there might be any re- lationship between the type or degree of planning for children and the status of happiness for the wives. Happiness the first part of pregnancy It appears that there is a significantltrend for those wives who planned their pregnancies to have been "happier"2during the first part of pregnancy than were those wives who tried to avoid pregnancy. This finding agrees with the relationship between positive planning to have children and the wives' reactions to the know- ledge of pregnancy, which were far more likely to have been favorable or happy than otherwise,in contrast to the reactions of those wives Who had tried to avoid pregnancy. Therefore it is concluded that persons who plan their pregnancies are far more likely to be happy and/or "happier" during the first part of the pregnancy period than are those whose pregnancies are unplanned 1. Significant at the ten.percent level. 2. "Happier" in comparison with period before the pregnancy. 104 Table 54. Relationship between attitude toward pregnancy and happiness during the first part of the pregnancy period as compared with.happiness before pregnancy Rating of Attitude toward pregnancy happiness Tried to Didn't Planned avoid care (Percent) "Happier" 27.2 52.7 59.2 "About the same" 48.1 60.0 52.6 "Unhappier" 24.7 7.5 8.2 Total cases 81 55 74 No response 2 An examination of Table 54. reveals that those wives Who didn't care whether or not they became pregnant repre- sent the highest prOportion of wives who indicated that they experienced no change in happiness, however, this is not a statistically significant difference. It will be seen that positive and negative changes have a defi- nite bearing upon planning, and that happiness is not necessarily sgable, since the emotional reaction to preg- nancy has largely subsided by the middlepart of the pregnancy period, at which.time it is probable that acceptance of pregnancy results in a greater incidence of "happier" wives among the group which had tried to avoid pregnancy, and a somewhat lesser incidence of these ratings among those who planned to have a child. 105 Happiness the middle_part of pregnancy_ A; was previously suggested, the incidence of unhappiness or ratings of "unhappier" decreased as pregnancy progressed for the wives, indicating that emotional balance may have been reached accompanied by feelings of well-being especially for those wives who had not tried to avoid pregnancy, as may be seen in the following table: Table 55. Relationship between attitude toward pregnancy and happiness during the middle part of the pregnancy period as compared with happiness before pregnancy ‘ Rating of Attitude toward pregnancy happiness Tried to Didn't Planned avoid care (Percent) "Happier" 58.5 52.7 56.5 "About the same" 50.6 58.2 62.1 "Unhappier" 11.1 9.1 1.4 (Total cases 81 55 74 No response 2 It may be seen that the proportion of wives Who planned their pregnancies and who indicated that they were "happier" during this period is somewhat less than the proportion indicating this in the first part of pregnancy, which suggests that the sudden increase in happiness experienced during the first part of pregnancy cannot be sustained. This seems logical considering the physical changes that are apparent as pregnancy progresses, 106 . and which may cause mental distress; i.e., loss of figure. Also, since those wives who planned their pregnancies were for the most part "very happy"lin their marriages, it might be expected thatthey would not grow progressively happier, being exceedingly. happy2 at the onset of pregnancy, while it appears as if those wives who did not plan their pregnancies were less likely to rate their marriages in this manner. Happiness the last part of_pregnancy_ It may be seen that the wives' happiness increases regardless of previous attitude as the birth of the child approaches, but that the greatest prOportion of "happier" ratings during the last part of the pregnancy period was indicated by those wives Who had previously tried to avoid pregnancy, which would suggest that almost com- plete acceptance of motherhood had occurred for this group by this time if not before. Also, it is possible that this trend toward greater happiness than was ex- perienced before pregnancy may be related to anticipa- tion and possibly relief that the pregnancy period is almost over with its accompanying physical discomfort and mental tension. 1. See Table 42., p. 85. 2. Assuming that the rating of overall marital happiness is representative of happiness before pregnancy 107 The relationShip between attitude toward having a child and happiness during the last part of pregnancy appears in the following table: Table 56. Relationship between attitude toward pregnancy and happiness during the last part of the pregnancy period as compared with happiness before pregnancy Rating of Attitude toward pregnancy happiness Tried to Didn't Planned avoid care (Percent) "Happier" 50.6 58.2 40.5 "About the same" 58.5 54.5 52.5 "Unhappier" 11.1 7.5 7.0 In summary, it may be seen} that those wives Who did not try to avoid pregnancy appear to have experi- enced essentially the same trends in happiness patterns during the pregnancy period; however, the group indi- cating that they had planned their children is repre- sentative of a higher incidence of "happier" ratings at all times. Although those wives who tried to avoid pregnancy were more likely to have been unhappier during the early part of pregnancy it is apparent that having a child increased their happiness to a greater extent after the initial period than it did for either of the other groups. V 1. See Chart 2., p. 11%. 108 Happiness since childbirth Although there is an apparent greater incidence in happiness for all the wives after the middle part of the pregnancy period, it may be seen that the greatest upsurge in happiness occurs after the birth of the child. The prOportions indicate that those wives who had tried to avoid pregnancy were most affected by the birth of their children and/or the presence of the child in the interval rated. However, the difference in proportions of "happier" ratings for those who had previously tried to avoid having children and for those Who had actually wanted to have chifidren is not significant; therefore it is indicated that these previous attitudes may be dis- counted after the birth of the child. Certainly the birth of the child brings about an increase in happiness for the majority of these wives. Avoidance of pregnancy does not indicate a negative attitude toward motherhood, ”then, but rather a desire to delay having children until a more advantageous time it would seem. This desire is understandable considering the fact that so many of the husbands were continuing their education in addition to the wives' roles at the time of conception. It may be concluded that planning--whether positive or negative-- for childrenm implying mutual decisions of the husbands and wives, is more conducive to happiness than lack of planning or indifference toward pregnancy which was found to be less conducive to happiness after childbirth. 109 The relationship between attitude toward pregnancy and happiness in the period since childbirth appears in the following table: Table 57. Relationship between attitude toward pregnancy and happiness during the period since the birth of the first child as compared with happiness before pregnancy Rating of Attitude toward pregnancy happiness Tried to Didn't Planned avoid care (Percent) "Happier" 76.2 56.5 74.0 "About the same" 18.8 50.8 20.5 "Unhappier" - 5.0 12.7 5.5 Total cases 80 55 75 No response 1 5 Overall marital happiness As was previously discussed in relation to reaction .to the knowledge of pregnancy,1 it was found that plan- ‘ning for pregnancy was most highly related to happiness in the marriage, the greatest proportion of wives who .had planned their pregnancies being represented among _those who rated their overall marital happiness as "very happy." Also, as was mentioned previously, it appears that even though the planning is to delay having children, the definiteness of purpose underlying such planning is more related to overall marital happiness than is the 1. See p. 85. 110 attitude of indifference as characterized by those wives who neither tried to aVoid nor planned to be- come pregnant at the time of conception. When over- all marital happiness is considered in relation to attitude it is found that 68.5 percent of those wives who planned to have a child rated their marriages as very happy while only 51.0 percent of those who didn't care whether or not they had children rated their mar- riages in this manner--a difference found to be signifi- cant at the one percent level. _Also the data suggest that somewhat more wives who tried to avoid pregnancy ' in comparison with rated their marriages as ”very happy' those who were indifferent to pregnancy, indicating that indifference to parenthood is probably more disruptive to marital happiness or that the general happiness of the couple effects desire to have children. It is pos- sible that such indifference may be representative of the couple's indifference toward one another or their lack of mutual decisions, since it would seem.that those wives whose concepts were more definite (as suggested by the desire to either have or keep from having children) in respect to pregnancy were more likely to have been happier ‘in their marriages. It is apparent that marital happines is most closely associated with the desire to have a child at the time of conception. 111 Chart 2. Percentage of wives who indicated that they were "Happier" in four periods of marriage than they had been before pregnancy as related to their attitudes toward pregnancy Attitudes toward pregnancy Tried to Didn't Planned avoid . care 1 A—‘ 70 g 60 p. (D ...-c D. p. E 50 A— t 0) s we .340 . ,._w r— a _* ~_ .d 8 so (— o 3’ 1" ...-I :3 g. 20 .d a .2 s .g a .2 e o a; s +3 n a 4: H g «:4: a. o . cage-I pager-i QHHH H cm .0 a. .o p. o x: a: 10 o :m m cm 0 CA a. -9 r4 0 4: r4 0 ' +::3 o m 13-9 :2 m «:4: o m +3 o saws saga saws masts Pair-1m III-42310) 0 Three parts of the pregnancy period and the period since the birth of the child 112 Evaluation of the_pregnancy experience Regardless of previous attitude, the wives' evalu- ations of their pregnancy experiences were quite similar. However, there was found a slight trend for those wives who had been indifferent to pregnancy to have found it "easier than expected" while those who had tried to avoid pregnancy were somewhat more likely to have found it "more difficult than expected" in comparison.with the responses of the other groups. These relationships appear below: Table 58. Attitude toward pregnancy as related to the wives' evaluations of the pregnancy ex- perience Evaluation of Attitude toward pregnancy experience Tried to Didn't Planned avoid care (Percent) "About as eXpected" 29.0 29.6 29.7 "Easier than expected" 46.0 55.7 48.7 "More difficult than ' expected" 25.0 16.7 21.7 Total cases 76 54 74 No response 5 1 2 An examination of Table 58. reveals that none of the differences are significant, therefore it is appar- ent that attitude toward pregnancy has little influence upon later evaluations of the pregnancy experience. 115 Evaluation of the labor experience Again it was found that there was little variance among the wives in respect to their evaluations of the laborexperience. However, it was found that there was a slight tendency1 for those wives Who had been indiffer- ent to pregnancy to have rated their labors as "more pain- ful than expected" to a greater extent than did the other wives. Also, those wives who had had definite positive or negative plans in respect to pregnancy were represented in similar pr0portions among those persons who indicated that their experiences had been "less painful than ex- pected." These relationships may be seen in the follow- ing table: Table 59. Attitude toward pregnancy as related to the wives' evaluations of the labor experience Evaluation of Attitude toward pregnancy experience Tried to Didn't Planned avoid care (Percent) "About as painful as ’ expected" 26.6 28.5 27.4 "Less painful than expected" 46.8 41.5 45.2 "More painful than expected" 26.6 50.2 27.4 Total cases 79 55 75 No response 2 2 5 1. This does not represent a statistically signifi- cant difference. . 114 Plans for children It appears that regardless of the previous atti- tude toward conception, the majority (80.0 percent)lof the wives did not change their plans for children. How- ever, it may be seen that there is a slight trend for those wives who planned their first pregnancies to have greater representation among the group still planning to have the same number of children. Also, it is apparent that those wives who were indifferent to pregnancy were somewhat more likely than the other wives to have wanted fewer children after experiencing pregnancy and labor. These relationships appear in the following table: Table 60. Relationship between attitude toward pregnancy and plans for children after pregnancy (as compared with previous plans) Plans for children Attitude toward pregnancy after pregnancy Tried to Didn't Planned avoid care '(Percent) Wanted the"same number" of children as before 80.1 76.4 84.2 Wanted "fewer children" 16.2 21.8 14.5 Wanted "more children" 5.7 1.8 1.5 Total cases 81 55 76 Because the differences between the proportions shown in Table 60. are not statistically significant, 1. See Table 50., 13.63. 115 it is concluded that concepts in respect to family size are not appreciably altered by the pregnancy and labor experienCes, regardless of previous attitude to- ward having a child when pregnancy occurred. This find- ing suggests that attitude toward having a child has less effect upon subsequent plans than does early cul- tural influence and/or family background. Fear of another labor As a further evaluation of the effect of firSt pregnancy and labor upon the wives' outlook toward having more children, they were asked whether or not they feared another period of labor and childbirth. When the response to this question was compared with previous attitude toward their first pregnancies it was found that early indifference to pregnancy was most closely associated with fear of another labor, and that attempted avoidance of first pregnancy was most related to lack of fear of another period of labor. These dif- ferences were found to be significant at the ten percent level. Therefore it is concluded that early attitude to- ward having a child may well influence later fears. It seems logical that the group which had tried to avoid pregnancy previously might have less fears because of their educational level and the possibility that they were taking greater precautions to keep from having a 116 second child while their husbands were still enrolled in school. Those wives who had been indifferent to having their first children.may have had more reason to fear another labor period considering the fact that they were highly1 represented among those wives who said that their first labors had been "more painful" than expected. It should be noted that there was no apparent relationship between fear of another labor and being pregnant with a second child at the time of the rating of this question, which lack of relationship indicates the influence factors in the wives' backgrounds(and especially their early atti- tude toward having a child) may have had upon this later fear. This relationship appears in the following table: Table 61. Relationship between attitude toward pregnancy and fear or lack of fear of a future period of labor and childbirth Indication of fear Attitude toward pregnancy Tried to Didn't Planned avoid care (Percent) Feared "somewhat“ or a "great deal" 52.5 47.2 45.2 Feared "not at all" 67.5 52.8 56.8 Total cases 80 55 74 No response 1 2 2 10 See table 59, p. 1140 117 The Second Child It was found that thirty-seven of the wives in the sample were pregnant with their second child at the time they filled out the questionnaires. Of these wives backgrounds certain information was investigated in order to see whether there might be any apparent relationships between past experiences and attitudes and second preg- nancy under the circumstances of college marriage. These findings will be presented briefly as a general picture of possible causal factors and/or influences. Attitude toward pregnangy Almost one-fourth (25.6 percent) of the 76 wives who planned their first pregnancies were pregnant with their second child at the time they filled out the ques- tionnaires, While only 12.6 percent)of those wives who had tried to avoid their first pregnancies were pregnant again. This relationship appears below: Table 62. Relationship between attitude toward first pregnancy and the incidence of second preg- nancy ‘ Status indicated Attitude toward lst pregnancy Tried to Didn't Planned avoid care (Percent) Not pregnant 87.4 85.0 76.4 Pregnant again 12.6 17.0 25.6 Total cases 79 55 76 No response 2 % Two wives indicated that they were pregnant at the time of the investigation; however, it was in- dicated that they were pregnant for the first time; therefore these cases have not been included here. 118 Although the prOportion of wives pregnant again who planned their first pregnancies is not highly1 sig- nificant in relation to those who tried to avoid their previous pregnancies, it was believed possible that there might be other factors showing a more significant relationship. When these variables were investigated it was found that although no one factor seemed causal in effecting second pregnancies, that certain trends were indicated as follow: Educational level The factor of educational level was considered as a possible influence behind second pregnancies; however, no significant difference was apparent although there was a slight trend for those wives with high school (or below) educational background to have been pregnant again to a greater extent than those having had some higher education. Age at marriage In respect to.age at marriage it was found that al- though there was no significant difference between the age groups: 22 years and under and 25 years and older, that there were a few more older wives who were pregnant again with their second child, thus suggesting the imp portance of childbearing for those wives of advanced age (in relation to the group as a whole). 1. Significant just below the ten percent level. 119 Length of time married Apparently the length of the marriage was not re- lated to the incidence of second pregnancy since essen- tially the same proportion (13.0 percent of the wives who had been married less than 5% years and 17.4 percent of the wives who had been.married longer) indicating that they were pregnant with their second child. However, another factor was considered which showed greater rela- tionship to second pregnancy. ' Occurrence of first_pregnan01 It was found that slightly more of the wiges Who had conceived their first children during the second six months of marriage were pregnant again than were those wives who had conceived either earlier or later in their marriages. Although this was not a statistically signifi- cant difference, such a differencelwas found between those wives who were pregnant again (26.1 percent as compared with 10.4 percent) and had become pregnant originally the second six months of marriage and those whose first preg- nancy began after one or more years of marriage. Those wives who had their first child early in marriage were far more likely to have become pregnant with their second 'child by the time of the investigation than were those 1. This difference was found to be significant at the five percent level. 120 wives who waited awhile before having their first child. Age of first child It was found, also, that those wives with the oldest (from one to two and one-half years in age) children were far more likely1 to be pregnant again than were those wives having infants less than one year old. None of the wives with children under six months old were pregnant again, While only five of the wives with children from seven months to a year old were pregnant with their second child, the remaining wives having older children.. This finding then, parallels the trend suggested in respect to the occurrence of pregnancy since for the most part the marriages studied were of short duration. Family‘plans It was also apparent that those wives who had previ- ously planned to have large families were more likely to be pregnant again than were those wives who had indicated that they wanted from one to three children. 0f the for- mer group, 20.8 percent were pregnant with their second child while 15.7 percent of those who wanted two or three children were pregnant, and only 15.1 percent of those who wanted one or two children were pregnant. Happiness Finally, it was found that those wives who were preg- A5 nant with their second child were somewhat more likely 1. Significant above the five percent level." 2. Significant just below the ten percent level. 5. Significant just below the ten percent level. 121 to have rated their marriages as "very happy" (70.5 percent of those pregnant again as compared with 57.4 percent of those not pregnant) than did the other wives. . In summary, it is apparent the time factor is the variable most relatedlto the incidence of second preg- nancy. Those wives with children over one year old were far more likely to have been pregnant a second time than were those with infants. Also, those wives who conceived the first time during the first few months of marriage were more likely to have conceived again than those wives who waited awhile before having their first child. In addition to these logical relationships, certain trends were indicated: Those wives who planned their first pregnancies were found to be pregnant again in great- er proportion than those who did not try to become preg- nant the first time. Those wives with somewhat less edu- cation were more often pregnant again than those with college schooling. Also, those wives who were somewhat older than the average age for the group were among the wives pregnant a second time to a greater extent than 1. As far as is known from the variables tested. 122 those wives under 25 years of age. Finally, those wives who were happier in their marriages and who planned to have large families were more likely to conceived again than the other wives. 123 Chapter VII Conclusion The purpose of the present study was to depict the backgrounds, attitudes and experiences of the wives of college students in relation to the first pregnancy. It was believed that specific information about the preg- nancy experience would be of value to persons advising others about the realistic aspects of family life under the circumstances of college marriage. Also, it was thought that there might be certain factors in the back-t grounds of the wives which would cause some wives to be happier than others, and-have easier pregnancie37~ There- fore, it was decided to analyze the relationship between the type of preparation for pregnancy or attitude toward conception and such factors in the wives' backgrounds. This analysis was then followed by an investigation into the relationship between attitude toward pregnancy and the experiences, emotions and evaluations of the wives in respect to the pregnancy. The findings are as follow: Background Information The wives who participated in the study were found to be for the most part young and recently married women who had expenienced pregnancy while their husbands were enrolled in college. They, themselves, had good educa- 124 tional background, over half the wives having had at least one or more years of college training. It was found that most of them.came from.large fami- lies and planned to have similarly large families; that the majority of the wives were raised in small towns or rural areas, and that their family backgrounds were for the most part middle class Protestant, as was suggested by the wives'responses to questions regarding father's occupation and personal religious faith. Premarital and Marital patterns Most of the couples had been acquainted longer than six.months before marriage, one-third of them being en- gaged longer than eight months. 'Three-fourths of the wives were not older than twenty-two years of age at the time of their marriages, while on the average the husbands were slightly older. The average marriage studied was from one and one-half to three and one-half years duration, while the ages of the children ranged from about ten days to two and one-half years, half the children being older than one year but less than three years of age at the time of the research. As was previously mentioned, most of the husbands were continuing their college education at the time of their wives' first pregnancies, over half of the couples 125 living in the barracks apartments and trailers on the campus of Michigan State College. Their average yearly income was found to be between $1,500 and $2,000, or approximately the amount which would be representative of government subsistence in addition to some income from sources such as the wife's wages. The relationship of background to attitude It was found that 81 (58.2 percent) of the wives had tried to avoid pregnancy at the time of conception; that 55 (26.0 percent) had neither tried to avoid nor effect pregnancy, while 76 (55.8 percent) of the wives had apparently planned to become pregnant at the time of conception. These three responses as to the circumstances of conception were assumed to be indicative of different attitudes toward having a child. Therefore these atti- tudes were investigated(by holding constant certain variables in the wives' backgrounds) in order to deter- mine whether or not a causal relationship might be sug- gested as such factors were known to precede conception. Briefly, it was found that some factors appeared to be more highly related than others to these attitudes. Of those factors which appeared to have the strongest effect upon attitude toward pregnancy or were found to be statistically significant after a comparison of the differences in prOportions it was found that the wife's 126 age was most related to attitude toward having a child, and that the younger (22 years of age and under)wives were far more likely to have tried to avoid pregnancy than were those 25 years of age or older. Also, it was found that slightly more younger-wives_conceived by the end of the first year of marriage than did the older wives, suggesting the possibility of a psychological barrier to the acceptance of motherhood so soon after marriage for young wives especially. Less significant in relationship1 but of decided importance were childhood residence, educational level, employment and/or school status of the wives. Those wives who lived in rural communities as children were far more likely to have planned their pregnancies than the other wives; while those who lived in small towns during their childhood were more likely to have been indifferent about having children at the time of con- ception and finallyk those from city backgrounds were most likely to have tried to avoid pregnancy in con-I trast with the other groups. Therefore, it is concluded that cultural heritage as represented by parental residence is probably influential in the decision to have children. Those wives who had less education (high school or below) were found to have planned their pregnancies more 1. Significant at the five percent level. 127 often than those wives who had gone on to college; however, educational level was found to be only one aspect of this relationship since it was also found that enrollment in school on the part of the wives' was far more likely to be related to avoidance of pregnancy than was either occupational status or lack of activity. Those wives having jobs, however, were more likely to have tried to avoid pregnancy than were those who had neither been enrolled in school nor worked in the period preceding conception. These findings sug- gest that these wives (who neither went to school nor worked) may have been.more ready to accept the role of wife and mother than were those Who continued their edu- cation to keep up with their husbands and/or prepare themselves for jobs, or those wives who already had jobs and wanted to continue working in order to help support themselves and their spouses. Trends in the wives' backgrounds In addition to the previously discussed significant relationships between certain variables in the wives' back- grounds certain trends were evident. Positive planning was found to be related to parental family size--those wives coming from larger families being more likely to have tried to effect pregnancy than those wives from.families of three children or less. Also, it was suggested that family size 128 (parental family) influenced the wives' decisions in respect to their concepts of the number of children they would like to have. Poor health in the period preceding pregnancy was apparently related to avoidance of pregnancy, while good health was related to planning. It was also found that over half of those wives who had had previous mis- carriages had tried to avoid pregnancy. The relationship of attitude to experiences Several very significant relationships were found in respect to previous attitude toward pregnancy. When the pregnancy was planned the greatest majority of the wives expressed only happiness as a reaction to the know- ledge that they had conceived, while over half of those wives who were trying to avoid pregnancy expressed their worry and/or unhappiness over the fact that they were preg- nant, with those wives who had been indifferent to preg- nancy expressing more happiness than the latter group but also more worry than the group who had planned to have children. Thus it is concluded that positive planning is a more-favorable basis for pregnancy than other attitudes. Highly related to reaction to pregnancy and planning was the evaluation of the marriage as "very happy," adding significance to the importance of planning for children. 129 I Very significant increase in emotional upset occurred from the period before pregnancy to the first part of the pregnancy period for those wives who tried to avoid conception, while a consistent increase in emotional upset was noticed within the group Which.had been indifferent to pregnancy, suggesting that perhaps this attitude was most unfavorably related to the wife's emotional balance especially in the period since the birth of the first child. Also, it was found that those wives who had planned their pregnancies indicated (as a group) less emotional upset after the birth of their children than they had experienced before pregnancy, and also, less incidence of such upset than either of the other groups, therefore substantiating the benefits of positive planning for children. In addition to emotional upset, it was found that worry about the child was related to negative attitudes or lack of planning for children, while positive plan— ning was not. Also; worry over finances was highly re- lated to avoidance of pregnancy, while worry or fear about labor was more closely associated with—planning. Regardless of attitude it was found that fears were re- lated to each other, those wives fearing for their child's health and normality also fearing labor. 150 Trends in the wives' experiences It was found that those wives whose ideas about having or not having children had been more clearly de- fined (either positive or negative planning)were more likely to have been "happier" during and since the preg- nancy period than those wives who had previously been indifferent toward having Children. Those wives who had tried to avoid pregnancy were more subject to nausea throughout the pregnancy period than were the other wives. Also, it was found that a negative attitude toward pregnancy was somewhat more con- ducive to poorer health during pregnancy when previous health had been good or excellent. However, when those wives who had poor health before pregnancy(and tried to avoid pregnancy) were investigated it was found that their health was likely to have improved to a greater extent than those who planned to have a child under such cir- cumstances. The latter trend suggests that some of the wives may have been trying to avoid pregnancy because of poor health, and were favorably affected psychologically and/or physiciaally by their experience, While those wives who went ahead with plans for children under such circump stances (and possibly against mediaal advice if doctors were consulted as is advised before undertaking pregnancy) were more likely to suffer the consequences of such poor- decisions. ' - ' 151 Evaluation of experiences In evaluating their experiences it was found that all the wives were quite equally distributed in their ratings of the pregnancy period. Virtually half the wives in each attitude group indicated that it had been "easier than eXpected" while almost as many said that labor had been "less painful“ than expected. Their comments in respect to plans for children .suggested that most of the wives wanted the same number of children as they had planned to have before they be- came pregnant, although it was apparent that those wives who had been indifferent to pregnancy in the past were somewhat more likely to want fewer children than did the other wives after the pregnancy experience. Also, it was found that these indifferent wives were more likely to indicate fear of another labor and childbirth than were the other wives. Second children Finally, it was indicated by almost one-fourth of the wives who had planned their first pregnanciei'that they were pregnant again at the time of the research. This fact suggests the satisfactoriness of motherhood to them in contrast to lack of desire to have more child- ren on the part of those wives who had tried to avoid 132 their first pregnancies, as evidenced by the small prOportion (12.6 percent) who were pregnant with their second children at the time of the research. In summary A significant relationship was found between cer- tain variables in the wives' backgrounds and their atti- tudes toward pregnancy at the time of conception. Those wives who were less than twenty-three years old at the time of marriage, who had had some higher education, and who were either enrolled in school or working outside the home were far more likely to have tried to avoid pregnancy than were those wives whose backgrounds differed. .Also, these wives who had had high school education or less schooling and no occupation or activity (schooling) out- side the home were far more likely to have tried to be- come pregnant than the wives whose backgrounds did not include these variables. When the experiences were considered in relation to previous attitude it was found that avoidance was most reg lated to unhappy reaction to pregnancy, more emotional up- set during the first part of the pregnancy period, more worry about expenses and less satisfaction with the marriage as indicated by the greater proportion of less happy ratings of overall marital happiness. In contrast, planning to have A child at the time of conception was most related to happiness as a reaction to pregnancy and in the marriage. 155 In addition to the_previously mentioned statis- tiaally_significant differences, certain trends were suggested by the data.1 I It was indicated that family size and childhood residence were somewhat related to attitude toward preg- nancy: that those wives coming from 2-5 children parental families and from city residential backgrounds were more likely to have tried to avoid pregnancy than wives from different cultural or familial milieu. Also, that ppor health and previous miscarriages were somewhat more in- dicative of this negative attitude toward having a child. Only children and those from small town backgrounds as well as older wives whre found to have been indiffer- ent (neither avoided nor planned) to pregnancy somewhat more often than the other wives. Also, those wives coming from larger families, from country backgrounds, and.having had no previous miscarriages were somewhat more likely to have planned their pregnancies. Trends in regard to the experiences of pregnancy sug- gested that those wives who avoided pregnancy were more likely to have experienced more nausea than the other wives in all periods of the pregnancy, that they were more sub- ject to serious health problems and worry about the child's health and normality. However, these wives had least fear 1. Not statistically significant. 134 in respect to labor and their health was found to improve more often than not when it had previously been poor, but also to decline when it had been good before pregnancy. Perhaps the most favorable trend indicated in relation to avoidance was the increase in happiness experienced by these wives as pregnancy progressed and after the birth of their first children. A less favorable relationship was indicated in respect to"indifference"and happiness-~fewer of these wives indicating increased happiness and more of them indicating emotional upset after the initial period of pregnancy. Trends in respect to'planning"suggested somewhat higher incidence of longer labors and fear about labor, but least worry about the child and less emotional up- set than the other wives. Therefore, considering both the significant differences and the suggested trends or slight differences between the groups it is concluded that positive planning or the desire to have children at the time of conception appears to be most favorably re- lated to the emotional and physical experiences of preg- nancy and to the marriage relationship. 155 Appendix I Note on the Statistical Method In order to determine whether or not the findings of the present study could have occurred by chance alone, a test for significance was used upon the prOportions dis- cussed. The method used determined the significance of appar- ent differences between percentages, to determine whether or not the same results could be expected if successive samples of similar groups were questioned with the in- strument used. Assuming that two random samples of size n1 and n2 with x1 individuals of the nl items and x indi- 2 viduals of the n2 items, the hypothesis used to test Whether or not this difference would occur by chance alone is: xl/nl and xZ/ng are random and independent samples from the same universe. The theorem used to test this null hypothesis is taken from Kenney: "If xl/n wand xg/n are random and indepen- dent samples % om an in inite universe in which p(l)is the proportion of individuals which have the character in question, the probability that the difference in the prOportions obtained will be numerically as gre t as the observed differ- ence w; [xl/nl- x2/n2 is approximately'Py ," and, ' L 2 n “’ i l | z u -.....— 2 ~ +— ‘c;, a‘fi; ‘{Eq(:flfi, yqtjy} 1. P = xl+x2 n1+ “2 2. Kenney, John. F., Mathematics g£_Statistics, Part II, New Yerk, D.VanNostrand 60., 1941,Pp.119-120. 136 The differences between the proportions in per- centage discussed were referred to as ”very signifi- cant"if they were found to be statistically signifi- cant at the one percent level. Any differences which were found to be statistically significant at the five percent level were termed, "significant," while any less significant were so designated. 13? 'Appendix I The Questionnaire Used in the Study 138 ' . ‘ . 1.. 1" . o n, E‘ r“ o I -: .fi Stddy'(> tI; Ifiiret III ”tinney ‘Lflnat happens to the adjistment of husbands 3nd wa.?s when the first pregnancy occurs? Iittle is known abidh this i *‘vmrtnnt p29 '10d of married life other tha. Geri 2i}: mczdi teal aspects, or the com trenta of pe~aens vho are r tIu CD ~ 4 t _l n the past have largely O‘eIlocre“ thi peried eI 1: 10, so there is great need for a pcol.n3 e? infesm bait ‘he type of experiences which (eupEes have a21t4;l* had during the period of the wiI e s Ii-at pregnancy. I xperiences can be de escri had an‘ “alvaIl, ' 3 ha helped to gain understandiIg wh c: sill better preware than 1r this in}: owtnpt period of; manix e... an” . " ‘- basing their remarks on specu.1atienI dc';.,;1ul£1t5.ezlflw (32); 0131' 23500—131000 “......(é); City 3. ,(J’IuTLng mom? sng3%ene¢t periud 0? L“ tub gur3.o 0d prece -LLg dour -3 . . ., .:.! . V. A. ' - _ mnfl“i°V') die you and year nuapnué uiSCUSG yen? idea" arouo huv1ag . . .s. ‘ .9 .. .. 1 2- , . “ t 1 1 or new nQV:n3 CuiLQFOMK _caecx) ' :7, ' r '1 h . ' ... _ . 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' .__ " "‘ .'C- , l-F ‘ ‘_-' V-. ‘- L13";x*ku we) «J- '11' u srlL.o Cg'd' :1-.L:L:L3L . (L)) b “fin“-..I-I (.:. :£::.:“rii‘a.tl¢‘§‘000'IQOOCOI.IOQCOOO...;..‘C-............‘CUOO..OOOIO¢OICQO . I I \ q I‘ Y -a‘ . . a - ~ ‘- -~ A», n. ~.~ I " I.‘ 'L' - . '- x ' ‘ ‘, I ‘ H ”v '1'; “’ Ed. Lam 33:4 d:d yak? ILfiat aluzhuyusm, pr.gn3403 Debi”? \bJ%bu/ - ' \ . ‘. ..-.x s ,~ .. .- . ‘ " e ,T L’EPDZ'H) I.‘:.‘j>_1’ff§-£z JG. K 1.) 3'. km.)- HOALJJS OI 1::11’1’15‘ O 6131,; i ‘x' :3 31; J1. ,5 \ .-.-1":qu ...-l. _ . -' .0 - ' ,- . . v9 ‘ {"7 v: W -,.,;.‘._ - n -... p \ .L) ‘ n. of p:g1jr?;_".L-i’ C‘ (- j} :‘ “J“; 1:13 ;- L419. ‘1- ‘1 ”.1” 1 ”DD U “.(‘I 1’ E L“ -‘-I :3".- 3- - 3 Ci no h--n.....a I sen-Ar F . -- n . _ _ r. ’ ,w G _ ,. ‘ _ c. ‘ _ marmifje {a}; ams VGQF. 0L w"‘r¥nuo Lu}, aster ¢ or worn “' u—I-vnanvc- , . “ I!" m —-, ~\ 0 g ‘ ~:‘ ,I ,. o rru ‘3 a. 3" ‘ftthCE CL; :WL.¢Lu.mfya. (r ). " “ta-oil... '43-“ I‘ 4. _r»;_, *. __ 1 ,, ‘ ' {. I. 1 q .\-p a “a. v-1 yr? F} ‘j a" x“ —-‘a- "1”" um" :I- 9 (p \' .'VI 4 “Ii-5“. ) a: 1.. ALL-3.x; i. LI'S b .... 33d 3'01} '9‘ b0 L.-.\.I ".1 f5.) ,1 up}. 1 31:1 U.‘ .t.l.v-:....o o .:..‘( J J...‘ “’1 . n 7 u ‘ l J- k. ~ us a. v- . ~" . '1 war r C '2‘ «~. 1- _ -.- '. a 2; 1.19,... (a) you C; .{alrj‘ '- LO LVQAd ppm: :, in m. (‘2 i: 1 2:9 ELM: . gm). L . cat-:3 :9. yjugr: 3:, ‘ .- . ,‘ '9". .. "‘ 'v a“. {Cz'zcclai .to J Li) Ho (.9) mm. Outfit!" - n ~ -"' ’ . on .- Ol‘ ‘ ‘ ~-'Ia',fl‘ ‘1 1‘- ': I 9 ‘ ~ “ . t ‘ n .- -:. 2 1-2 '2 3 ‘t’z bnaighbor's .92th ‘13-’13}; m', 1"5’2; f.,j"i‘22{ v2.1 ; 2‘2, . “L A” -4‘— “—- -_. -—‘ -.--nus .-..—..‘-s_‘ ...--. .-2. - 0-. a- — . - v2.3.Huw would you rate your gene 31 health at a?" t 3 ~ pr35 at? (check) \« {'4 ..’2 “ if I ‘8 . . . «- Mcellcnt- I_jl)' GoJfl _ _ T}; 2n'ruwm 23), 2o; ”2 b.51d vou h ave any serious hnnith navfilxtn (5 a "'.732 L. r20mi3. "lvndul2r, ovrrian, t}:yr Id, awermw":hfi s a~ 3 . ' 42‘. . ., U: ' f '1 \ 2‘ ("2 that mada your pregne may cafgic2223 ; N>~”‘KJJ 1" 22) _ x T «I If yes, what proalems. (‘ ‘2 .. ~ £- . - ’-,. . . ur- a '- .0 ‘ g- '5'. ’ r .- . £¢2 how would you rave your hOulbi 313322 in; _rgéLs : p2 I: About tne same as before (1)' t :21? ahafl fii’ ~2 ? poorer tnan before (3)2 m 2 7 — ‘1 9 m- - o 2 ‘3 i 2.1“ ...: .2 v“ -- 2. . _ . _ .12-) a 'I'Ow 681 ~j in yojlz‘ pre32.(.'1.2213:,’ (L.‘2g4. ."2 2, ‘._~' -' .2,:‘;,v 2- ’4 {A 21. ' 2.127411 your husbau r {:0 HT! ‘21-“. 3,527.22; (2.1 2119,; W59 (:3 -, 5 ., T ,; Cf wife's 1n;itr W'Ctl m3 tram Ccctaxi shacV‘ ELJ ’3? 2 0 51d 703 836 YOU? ivetor ?nr anfilax v? 213 i‘ti‘ :m.m 5‘, on . ‘9' N J--.' cart 0; p~e nancy ? "2, (l) 20 2c} M nah-’9 der you, 1% w could V» J? HECCEC? havg Ewan Wars » xi. . during; this Varied? Durifi-{E 1:37:01" 5523;), 1‘22 iC‘c‘ ’* ; ' pub” £4.31d you ex>orip' nee any nausea &uring the pregnancy perlcfi? {check each peeiod) 3.? rat part of pregnancy Frequently 303931333 Rarsly Have: 1 b. 316.616 part of pregnancy“ I “kc-Own .- c.Last part of pregnancy 45. How often have you felt emotionally upset (i.e., marvels, crying 03c ) during your maUUied life? (check each period). Frequently Som filmcs Rarely Never a. Before lst pragnancy b. First part of pregnancy—mu- .__.. _u__ c. fiddle part of U‘Oflfiqnfiz “_u_ .wmu_ d. Innt pa rt of pregnancy_nm_1 .,._~ .~“_m 9. Since the birth of chilgwm_ _m*w_ .1111 7. HOW often has vou? bu sbafid hum lpcd you with “zusehold tasks (any huvsewn:k, 37313133 333.) dur122g fihe fallgaing peliods in your MU Pr; U30? (” -Jo k) Frequently Sometimea R“P87F Never . ..n . Ci. ...‘QJJJO’T’Q 3.. E" t prai3~?ancy humus—Inn nun-nu." "Wu-.0 '3‘. 1 a yr“ f? '3 f,‘ {m {’21 ‘1'" t) . ..’L‘ ‘ Wj‘nti l‘IP‘J (“J—..‘k‘ ‘0'}; ”MI.“ ruby-omnN-Il ..niwlnw- our...” “.0 C? . a -‘ "7 ,I ‘0‘ .5" r- 2; o wil'iCC} Gila/1.1 O). {1140 0:1..1d a ”1m QY. Do you b011~we Ehat he should hage helpad you maye during ”he 0‘! 48. Did you flfitiP 00 any chamUU in yOUP husbar d‘3 aYtM Ude towavd you a:?ter you became pregnant? Y031 (1) Ho (2) b. If yes, how did it change? Comment: 49. What, if anythi.ng, annoyed ynu about the way your husbaxd acfiea during the pregnancy period? Comment: A..- .L w A —v .50. How many of your recreation activities have i.nch zaea your husbunfi during each of the following peviods in yam; marriaver (c3-e ck) w All Hosé'; Paw cha 8, Be fora lst pregnatwv _~_ a”. .. b. 3311313 pregnancy period . _*_. .m“- .wmm G. Since the birth of your child ...... ...... ...... ...... 0” 0- ‘ a.) 51. How often, if fiver, have you and your nucb,rd m1 seri ous disagree- ments over the following tapics? (cm 12 each tapic). Frequently Sometimes Rarely Have? a. Having or not having children b. Disciplining or trainingfi c. Spending the family income d. Social activities and 6. Choice of friends 3 f. Sexual relations , g. Inwlaws _ W“ ,v 31. Religion ““2”. 22“.” .2222 ._mm~ :3... ($223113? £035.. :2 (Specify) ooooaooodouoooonladaoo.vocab-o. ...“...«m. .... ..— mmw. ”um-...»... 322 If anv of the PbOVU 22r3 SO“?OQS of sow‘w" d13flfirVJfldnua wart tic; 2c3ate” to the pae333233 21H bith of’3 2 cflild? Iaq_mm’1) Yomwu(;} :1 2111;11é1:_‘4‘ _ __ _ __ __ A 2 _._. 532 What effacfi, if an3, do 32& beliave 393.? p~*"aanL3 had on 30H? Saxual udjnstuen“? (Comment) 54. If you 35 Opped having eexua intercourse du2°ing pregz1an03, check she main reason. (unwed cue or more) Did 110,5 suop. “...(1') Stopr ed bocgv has: It didn't seem Pigghb during pregm ancy. (2) It wag painful or Ln2¢“2ortao 9.22. (37 It nauseated maa H{ I feavac misc Pria? (5) I I was afvaid it ulpxuuhuw £3229 12:27.33. ~(6) I didn’t enj 03 it. (3) fifty husband didn’t e27 3 it *‘ (8) My dococr 222122222221 37:. (9? ()t}131“3'?851220f1 {Spuqc}..1::r‘)IOOQOIOIOICIOI.OQUOOOI(}:) 55. When did you last haves xus2l intercomwga flaring prognan 3? C‘.cnz a: (How long before ohilflfiirth) 22:31,...2222..." “222.2% 3102.3 21:22 r222. ‘ ._ 56. H w sown after 'ha birth of your child did yen resume sexual intepCanwt2? Carma; 2; :_ ' b. If you are trying to avoid pregn.1ncy at thlg time, do 33m fligtrust your prssent method? (check) Hot trying to avoid prefiumlcy. _( ‘ Distrust met 20d: V2r3 much m(§7} scneWHflt fifi);n¢n at all_~wjé) Lmat type of methoi do you usa? (Comraent) 0'. Rate your saxus Al 63 :3ire in each. of the £03.10w3n" paviods as com3arad with sexual desire befovs i‘lrat prag:aancy: (check each psr'cdj A great Somov;hat About the same Somswhafi A greutdgfi deal more more as before less less a. let part of pregnancy . b. Yuddle part of pregnancy .L~_. ...._ .__n_ ._hw. i1. W1 5.! U C;:€1j.;. 58.116w would you r255 your sexual adjustm,nt durixg the following perious of your mar? ago? (check as ch period) Vawy good Good Average Fair Peer a. Before '-3t pregnancy .M‘- ._ M b '4 i:"“t 3:) :2" 1‘13 l E} It; .131 . n ’f .:‘q 2:: r3” 1" rpm my” fiflflw ”who"..- tm-u— uncut-In:- fi. 1‘13 '1; 031.4. “:16: 5;. Rats your ha9333nn~ in eaca of the following periods of pwulcrjq us cnrparsd with \mrUp haw ppL es 3 in tLe periné befavm tho first pivcgtin= 2 (check fiach period). kflppifc A30ut thc acno Thhupciew a. lst port of pra; nancy b. m3.ddle mxrt of pregnancy c. Last part of “regnancy _‘ _- _. d. inc L9 the birth of your fir:t 60. In reviewing your entire ma.rricd life, congidering wou].d you rate the happines 3 cf yov.r marr ...”XJJ Very'happy Happy AV 6 I" 0" “0‘0 Somewhat unhappy. Very unhappy <2) M(3) “(4) (5) J 1"?” LL63? (check) over) thing, how (’7'; \J“ 'M v 52:. g D Q {3‘ 0 O 7.4- ‘1 .5” ’3 .w., «ll-1“! (36: O ,97 for doctor and hospital BXpenset? '3?3 that was your reaction to hospital confin.emant? ya you satiafxzn i c 'culd vou 333 that having a baby made your rel at ion: him with you? (:0 . a 1 v " -‘«. . " r .' 3 ‘f‘ v o —- x ‘ J a "S‘ V 2 q -¢ ' 1 1 I f‘ ‘-" r-_ ’7 ‘ I ‘V ,7 7‘ ‘ '-' '4‘ ’7 ‘1 $15 (I! \t' J k) .17).!" " it"; ... it \IIK-J'J.-6. 4's ‘ l-.~ ~15 ' ‘o - v'..’\ '1 "-‘ i- J' " . O l i ‘ 9 V ' ' 4‘ 3 1 J ‘ a ., —- ‘ Q o I {-1, "" v ‘ ‘5 \ ' ' - ‘ A - I 7 - ~ V . .-~‘ 'r r x x \ ‘ 7 P 2 . is; stx 13"» 7 31 P Lb7hxuuw7cz I LILL:I13:2 1;;9 ’1; ”--.~ 7 . LL, : \ ’ ~~u~ -n..~l.l I us. .4 . ,-_ - ... . , .. '~ ,1 . L1 ,2 a. as mmnh 71d you 1 ray during your meal ES; quuL msLLg away 3, C \ \J I ' I A KTEat darl (1); Somewhat 2 ; flat at all (3) '3 '7 )0: 1‘ -‘ "Vf. D“. 513 cave; 390 a? Ccmnznuu mg the b aby, vie iting ha ours, 3t co'ovooaoo060.couococoooooooOSQOOOOCOOCOOOOQOOOOlove-090000261...usu I ’ | t P 31' .'- ‘N Y'” -- 1 , I." P0111 ‘ [1:13. .2; 01.3 L -- -_: . . check): better (1); poorer 933 (3); or,dldn7t live near in-laus.m_ .-. - ~ .. . r7 V‘ ‘ \ 3”." aare You omPLcyod at the timo when You becama P“C’”d ‘3 193 ”(1’ “‘7' if y7s, full 0? part tim ? C swap ntz l“ ’1 ‘_I 7.7,... 7- .'7 . .. . 1 -. , , Fifi} i.’.‘\.ii...t) {3.3.153}? 3:53,}. 050,333 U 33w much difi you P"*P33 . Vin“ Y3”? 3‘3b? (0h33k) II...96.30.0‘006I0l0’bflflt1‘Gish e f you warm employed, how 103 did yea 033 inue to work cuuuzms G Pfiegflfinfi? wneks youths. 1 L‘- YEIS anufl7 (1); :1 littla E3); Not 8j72fitl {5} '5. M. M ... .71 7 -..... 1 - .9) . . , [.1 '. 1.51.3. J— ~.~-. 1. ".57.- r:- .n ;cfi slam he 33;; wepking permanemL or Onif n3mpopayL73: \. .~.~‘« ,4 .un'. . ‘~-«.a«~‘-J-1»3946-otstwooanoo.m30¢‘anQas-sonacoatc. COO-00.11..zv-GIIIOCtlzt-.2-. \ Q ‘ Q‘ -{“ l‘ .3 v- 7.. ‘2 ,- l 6., ,' . ‘n (.:. f ... 1. ~ 1 {7 ._ n g: _ ~. < : 0: ‘ .7 ~. 027. 7.1., .12; 7.1 3 32). 71:7 7.7.. 730 11117173; 3 .227 22737.3 - 7 a; r gr 1 25‘ . 5 f ‘ ‘D 9 u l 1.“ ‘\ \1 (l ‘\ "x ‘ .r" ’ '1 d ‘1 v (..- ‘3 9- r ‘ ‘1’1' 1, ~ 0 i (T: ~55) \ 1.1 '3‘ ‘11 'Jflx‘zlt‘ 7:13.erqu ;_01‘ i 4,: Elf)", ’31 _L " "’ f." '35, ) 1, F ‘ .1 n l l_ a ‘ ° 0— Q 1‘. . \ a .' 5A.).rr- -, 11.3 ‘7 1r { . r": J, J 19 (.03 '11.”; a, g .:. {.'C .‘ I \2~.; «:2, 731 u "L , “03%u313u (11: w( :, , Tau 3~.z311 3L: 7.- -mm-) I‘mnm ‘V‘I‘Y‘Hy‘.rfl 9 L55-” L‘v‘..L§I-3.flulu‘hhi‘0.3-!!OOOOOOOC.’6009000006’.SMOOCGOOO¢OCCOI¢6091fil'oggd, :‘z .I‘ u I“ (" 3 .. 1 .. (,3 :“I . ‘ . » .n -. o r . 5r“ 1‘0 l.- .n a-r 'qx . '7 ‘. .J_.:, 2. 3‘ OJ. 1 21,1202 ILL} 033 23. (111:. 5 OI” OLSY to 830.5,." at 5.70178 FM. 7 1" 301?. ‘37-‘77“ ’ r ~~ . a .4“ ‘I f I‘ .:.-v" .’ v.. d.’: ’ . , ‘1 , s a “ H -. =1 2 X y" ‘ J) ‘1 ? ‘3 J. J: ‘3‘ P ”(frf) L‘fcu IQQSL‘J'asa 9 DOI’GRFI, e :3: OP 11'51I11;:i' [2,}. ‘2. 3L}? 1‘31: 4. . ,v nLWW~.vu-v Vb’:.1.xn'.'3.’.--..'DOQhe36¢.vvéomod$GOICOOIOOOOOOOGUO¢0.0.0.4“4'I‘OIOOO'QOQOt‘G‘LZC-L‘C‘ 7'- i’v v i ‘ 1‘ "r ‘. a I I“ t “A 4. I p O . 4r. ': ~ ..-_~ v? 7 , C‘ Jaye you worE M cum sLda your home since the blrth CL 50;: cuL:d: v ,,_ {US (1) NC (2) 't . 4‘2“ ' 2" F“ ~u . 1.1 3.5” 4511 01" 2331‘» tLHIS? COXLI2471’43nt‘°'""..e‘....‘a¢c“..'oai3““...3‘ I xla’ ’4 H R r1 n \J 7 =ain reason for wanési mg to? (check) f "Du answ0?3d ”no" to ques tion ;}65, ha"0. you eve? wishgd {0‘ acnfii er}: outsida your home since the E5.rthn gour chili? (c Sraquantly (l); vomfltina ”(2)3R 231V mé‘); Eaver ll...” 3”“...- f rau would liha ha ha wowxing but'ide Wm? Roma now? via: 73 ”fifi” Ext pa mane y to spend as 3cm p]-ease ? (l) more stimulati.27g contac wt ? (2) 'mm" A raise in y 3vsfi st anda 7rd GT"T7ving? “(5) A filler for 13Ls71re t1m27, (4) v,‘1a‘r‘\a{-0 CHIHJ—r "lOOOOO‘OOOtOOofiflchOOOOOOOGIDOOUnOIe¢¢¢tuet;Ioooooaouo¢-v;gx,«. ’on03r v! .\\.I I m I .. ‘ a. .II a . (,m fir I f in v; .y . .‘n . '1’ m |., ’u ‘ .‘?'u ' '0‘ .{3 1561.11.31 I \P .- t o P I, .$- 317.3 '; I VJ“ 9, .8. I’I- ' 7 '4‘ '. I“ AJ ‘ "I ‘ .1.!.J . t . .li . . x u .v .. rs 1"(:;‘ Anon}. r.-,‘ J. --l ~A. 5' . .. , I4 ~ L V I K 4 . ~ . I ‘ (4 h .. I. \I m. ‘f t o u. \I A. . .J. .. 1.3. I . ... v.1». ... |.\ . a .. u a . . .. 1 .a .t l d . , . 1. ‘ .xu . . v . I ' I .1 V . ‘ $1.... ‘ ‘ .(u o a s) .1 ..l ) J . .1. ...... ._ n . I; 00‘ X . a r}. m . In — u g I 1;.“ m .1). 9 3m... x: . u .. . .1. .‘ . .o I a r w: a 1 . I. J . .1 . .- ln. I» . c I} a a .u: -s ‘42‘ .Ik I TL . « w . . u . — I p n o k 1!" .I ...; {0.1 .1 u. v .. 1 ¢ $ ‘ k Iv ..' do. » ~ ~ a 5L ’. . .'l K. .1\ g ‘m .. i)“ .1) . .. . . . a ‘ . 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I . h I. , ‘5 K. a a .... . b . \J . .. . . I ml p.14. 3, ~ . .tu. . n: .. .‘u . . .Hu J .I 0 V. v I ‘H 1.; I . I if . A ..c 1 -1 I f 1“ . ”\JN ‘Ir‘ 9 . v \ l.\ 7.. y + I bu. y . . .'r. 3‘... . .. . . w. ‘ .J. urn 1\o .c % II. ' a I N a _ . I J . fi.’ - . s I - V l I. I 1y . «L I;\ rtln l! r II N. 1 x. I, ..u a i .\— A :45 C. a I.-.» Ll. . . , I 1 w. . L... . f... p. . - Q.“ + If ._ u _ v n 4 ..r l I . . . .JII. . . in . I!» K; . I u .I . . . . ‘ l ‘ . an“ s .- u . o . a . g 01.5 .0]- . I I . r) t u, .v < \1 . . . . ti. 3‘. H.) n 4 _ 1!; J ..u . ¢ 0 . r. 1 .1, . .. ... . \I M V \. t2 2 . ...q r .’l- i . . . u , .f . A I u. L . I ~\ .. , . . . J n \. I ... n i. 1.. ‘0. I...» 1 Ox. .1\ - ... . . a . s.o t u... I» v . .- fly: 1 . .. I l ‘i ~ |.v v . 0 I I n 11. X .. ... . . : -.. ‘ L.‘ . < . u n , 4 v p at I l.‘ « xxx 2 wt . . . , ; I ‘ I u l ‘ v . 4 a; y u . . ‘ . . M . . , . . 1‘... v k. I v .- c _ J, 3 H .pa -1‘Ipl ‘- .“ n5. 0‘: IO- ... r‘ K 15. a. Before wife's first pregnancy b. Co 16. 17. 18; 19. During the pregnancy period Since the birth of your child Did you notice any change in your wife's attitude toward you after she became pregnant? Yes (1) No (2) If YBS, hOW did it change? Comment:.......-........o....... O......O'OOOI......ODODCCOCOOOO.........IIDIOO......OOOODCCI How many of your recreation activities have included your wife during each of the following periods in your marriage? (check) All fleet Few None “Wu-....“- “Wm“ “WM.“ How often, if ever, have you and your wife had serious disagroev ments over the following topics? (check each topic) Frequently Sometimes Rarely Never Having or not having children “A“. Disciplining or trelning of children Spending the family income\ , ~_ ,_“,_ Social activities and recreation __~m Choice of friends Sexual relations In-laws, I H'HH Zeligion Other topics (specify) 0.0.0.0000...IoooOooooaooOOOOOIOO I... If any of the above were sources of serious disagreement, were they reltted to the pregnancy and birth of your child? Yes (1) No (2) C Comment..............................................ooo....oo... What effect, if any, do you believe your wife's pregnancy had on your sexual adjustment? (Comment) .0000...0.000....O...............COOIQDOOOOCOOOOOC...OOOOOQI'IO. If you stopped having sexual intercourse during pregnancy, check the main reason. (check One or more) Did not stop._w~(l) or Stopped because: It didn't seem right during pregnancy, (2) It was painful or uncomfortable for wife.“_mf3); It nauseatEHmuife. (é: Wife feared miscarriage. (5)3 Afraid it might hurt the baby. (ETY' wire didn't enjoy immfin‘? I didn't enjoy it.____(8)x Doctor o‘z‘ia’e'ree 1b.. (9): Other reason (SpecifY),.....,,,,,,.....,,.,,..,,,....,,,(x)n 20.a.uhen did you last have sexual intercourse during wife's pregnancy? Comment (days, weeks or months before childbirth):,,,,,,,,,.,,,9, b.0uring the period that you had no sexual intercourse with your wife did you find other sexual outlets? Yes (1) No (2) If yes. comment:....ooo.........a................o...........ooo¢ 21.a.How soon after the birth of your child did you resume sexual inter— course? Comment:. OO.....OOOOOOOOOOCOOO......OOO........OOCOOCOOO b.If you are trying to avoid pregnancy at this time do you distrust your present method? Yes (1) No (2) coment:0000.000QOOOOOOOIOOOOOOODOOOCloo...OOOOOOooootoooonoooooo 22.Rate your sexual desire in each of the following periods of your marriage as compared with sexual desire before wife's first pregnancy: (Cheek each periOd) A great Somewhat About t 6 SOmaWhHQ A grant dea more more same as efore less deal lexg ‘C—A- *“*\ ...-m a. First part of pregnancy b. middle part of pregnancy i l m “mm i ...-_— m M“ c. Last part of pregnancy d. Since the birth of your first child 25. How would you rate your sexual adjustment during the following periods of your marriage? (check each period) ?ery good Good Average Fair Poor a. Before wife's first pregnancy b. During wife's first pregnancy * c. Since the birth of your first child m M 24. Rate your happiness in each of the following periods of marriage as compared with your happiness in the period before wife's first pregnancy (check each period). Happier About the same Unhappier a. First part of pregnancy period b. Middle part of pregnancy period 0. Last part of pregnancy period d. Since the birth of your first child 25. In reviewing your entire married life, considering everything. how would you rate the happiness of your marriage? (check) Very happy (1): Happy (2); Average (3); Somewhat unhappy (4): Very unhappy. . (5) BIBLIOGRAPHY BOOKS Becker,i., and Hill, R., Family Marriage and Parenthood, Burgess, E.W., and Cottrell, L.S., Predicting Success 93 Failure in Narriage,_New York, Prentice-Hall, 1959. Burgess, E.W., and Loclce, H. J., The Family, New York, American Book Co., 1945. Butterfield, Oliver M., Sex Life in llarriace, New York, Emerson Books, Inc. 1947. . Davis, Allison, and Gardner, Burleigh and Nary, Deep South, Chicago, Univ. of Chibago Press, 1941. Duvall, E.N., and Hill,I., When You.Narry, Boston, D.C. Heath, 1945. ‘ Eastman, Nicholson, M.D., Expectant motherhood, Boston, Little Brown and Co., 1943. Lllis, Havelock, Studies in the P_ychology_of Sex, Vol.11, New York, Random House, 1956. Fishbein, M. and Burgess, E.W., editors, Successful Marriage, New York, Doubleday, 1947. Ienney, John F., Iiathematics of Statistics, Part II, New York, D. Van Nostrand, 1941. Landis, Judson T. and Imar G., Building a Successful harriace, New York, Prentice- Hall, 19118. Lundberg, George A., Social Research, New York, Longmans Green, 1942. Read,Grant1y D., Childbirth Without Fga r, New York, Harper, 1944. ENCY.REF. Every WOman's Standard medical Guide, New York, Greystone Press, 1948. Articles: Centers, Richard, "marital Selection and Occupational Strata," Amer.£,Soc., Vol.LlV, No.6, May '49. Kead, Margaret, "The American Family as an Anthropolo- gist Sees It," Amer.£,Soc., Vol. Llll, No.6., May'48. H.S. thesis: Pratt, Lois VerVeer, Student Marriages at Michigan State College, Unpublished Master's thesis, Mich.State‘UOllege, 1948. - N0 453 W USE ONLY ..W 1.. I, f‘ .rIIl'FnI ..hn' » pnfl'ull. .LLPnrl'. FE ?-!4«ii!’hl.inélfl..lr..ri.tHlll (...; . 1|... IlmmlluIIuInmgummy:Winn 3 1293