Daily hassles, sacrifices, and relationship quality for pregnant cohabitors

We use daily diaries to test how relational sacrifices and hassles are associated with relationship satisfaction in a community sample of pregnant, unmarried, cohabitors (n = 34 individuals, or 17 couples). We found that on days when women reported more hassles than usual, their increased daily sacrifices were associated with declines in relationship quality for their male partners, but not for themselves. We discuss reasons why women's own relationship satisfaction is not affected by making greater relational sacrifices on days characterized by higher hassles, such as the possibility that unmarried pregnant women may retain positive illusions of their relationships given the potential costs of breaking up. The results of the present study are of practical use for clinicians working with unmarried pregnant couples to preserve relationship quality - an especially important goal given potential instability and ambiguity involved in these unions.