Feelings of older Japanese primiparous couples and satisfaction of older primiparous wives with their husbands’ support during pregnancy: Focus on the perceptions of pregnant couples

AIM: This study was to explore the feelings of older primiparous wives and husbands and satisfaction of older primiparous wives with their husbands’ support during pregnancy. DESIGN: This study is a qualitative research design based on the characteristics of clarifying the recognition of older primiparous couples. METHODS: Participants were eight older Japanese primiparous couples. Older primiparous couple's feeling and support by husband during pregnancy were elected using semi‐structured interviews. The analysis was used by content analysis method. RESULTS: Two categories of the couples' feeling during pregnancy included “Mental stress and physical burden associated with older age” and “Richness and strong will to actively accept the older age.” Three categories of the husbands’ support for wives’ satisfaction included “Empathy regarding the older primiparous wives,” “physical and mental health” and “Cooperation of housework with husband.” This study has greatly contributed to nursing support for marital relationships.