Longitudinal Evaluation of Syndemic Risk Dyads in a Cohort of Young Pregnant Couples

Abstract

PurposeThe burden of syndemics—which are clusters of overlapping risk factors that adversely impact health—has been previously evaluated among high-risk individuals, yet little is known regarding syndemics within the relationship context. MethodsWe evaluated concordant and discordant syndemic profiles among 296 pregnant couples and their actor–partner effects longitudinally from pregnancy to 1-year postpartum. ResultsSyndemic score and severity were correlated across all time points for men and women. There was a significant difference in syndemic score (βMen–Women = .2736, p = <.0001) and severity (βMen–Women = .4282, p = <.0001) during pregnancy. For actor effects, we found score (βT1–T2 = .273, p = .002; βT2–T3 = .300, p = .005) and severity (βT1–T2 = .253, p = .004; βT2–T3 = .418, p = .001) were significantly associated across all time points for women. For men, only syndemic score predicted subsequent score at later time points (βT1–T2 = .393, p = <.001; βT2–T3 = .421, p = <.001). Severity was not significantly associated across time (βT1–T2 = .043, p = .566; βT2–T3 = .172, p = .066). For partner effects, we found women's syndemic risk to influence men's syndemic risk, while men had no significant effect on women's syndemic risk. ConclusionsPregnancy provides an opportunity to reduce syndemic burden among men and women. Couples-based prevention programs may serve to reduce syndemic risk for both partners, particularly during the postpartum period.