Examine the Predictive Relationship between Perceived Social Support and Perceived Stress among Pregnant Women

Abstract

The woman's mental and physical health will unavoidably suffer throughout her pregnancy. Extreme mood swings and, in rare occasions, mental instability can occur. These factors make pregnancy a time when a woman has to undertake bio-psycho-social modifications, such as establishing strong social support systems, in order to alleviate the stress that comes with being pregnant. Objective: To investigate the predictive relationship between perceived social support and perceived stress among pregnant women in Pakistan. Methods: The study used a correlational cross-sectional research design. The sample consisted of (N=72) pregnant females in their third trimester with an age range between 18 to 37 years (Mean age= 26.3; SD=4.4) was selected from departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology of various hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan by using purposive sampling technique. The data were collected from December 2022 till January 2023. The demographic information form, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and Perceived Stress Scale were used, and analysis of data were done by using Regression analysis and One-way ANOVA through SPSS version 25.0. Results: The findings revealed a significant negative predictive relationship between perceived social support from friends and perceived stress of pregnant women (b= -.482, p<.05). The analysis of variance reveals that significant mean differences in socioeconomic status and number of miscarriages on perceived stress are present among pregnant women. Conclusions: These results emphasize the need to develop comprehensive strategies for assisting pregnant women by taking into account the aspects of social support, and make interventions to tackle stress successfully, and enhance maternal well-being throughout the pregnancy.