Social Support Mechanisms Research Articles

Spiritual Diversity in Personal Recovery from Mental Health Challenges: A Qualitative Study from Chinese-Australian Service Users' Perspectives.

Spiritual diversity and the positive role of spirituality in personal recovery have received growing attention in mental health literature. However, the spiritual experiences and views of service users from cultural communities, particularly the Chinese community, are understudied in Australia. This research explores Chinese service users' spiritual identities and their views and perspectives on the roles of spirituality in their mental health recovery and attempts to provide inspiration for practitioners to engage with service users' spirituality in non-clinical mental health practice. A qualitative exploratory approach guided this study. Semi-structured interviews were employed with four Chinese participants with spiritual identities, who were recruited through the community Psychosocial Support Service in Victoria. The template analysis method supported the data analysis. The results indicate that spirituality has a positive impact on the mental health recovery of participants, primarily through coping, self-regulatory, and social support mechanisms. The findings also present that Chinese service users' understanding and approaches to spirituality are shaped by both original and Australian Cultures. These findings suggest that practitioners should provide a creative understanding and cultural awareness when discussing with service users their spiritual identities, perspectives, and spirituality in the wider context. The research fills a gap in the spiritual views and perspectives of service users accessing a non-clinical mental health service from the Chinese community.

Extinguishing the Fire: Occupational Stress-Coping Mechanisms of High School Teachers

The challenging reality that teachers and school personnel face is emerging and demands acknowledgment. High occupational stress exacerbates teacher burnout, loss of engagement, job dissatisfaction, poor performance, and even one of the worst turnover rates in human history, impacting teacher health and well-being. Teachers must address stress promptly to prevent its adverse effects on their work. This illustrative retrospective single-case study design explored and understood the occupational stress-coping mechanisms of private high school teachers. The researcher employed a semi-structured interview guide to collect data about five private high school teachers who teach at a PAASCU Accredited School. The result revealed three themes: Problem-Focused, Self-recreation, and Social-Support Mechanism. Teachers who handle occupational stress well can perform better, creating a positive learning environment for students due to the interconnectedness of stress mechanisms. This study concludes on the premise that being stressed at work affects the overall performance of teachers. Therefore, the ability to cope with occupational stress contributes to teachers, and teachers who feel equipped to handle the demands of their jobs are more likely to find fulfillment in their careers.

Determinants of the formation of an inclusive economy in Middle East countries and its socio-economic consequences

Purpose. This research aims to investigate and determine the factors influencing the formation of an inclusive economy in the Middle East countries and analyze the socio-economic consequences of this process, including its impact on social development, employment levels, and poverty in the region. Methodology of research. The research is based on the scientific works of scholars in the field of inclusive economy in the Middle East. General and specialized research methods, including analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, and graphical methods, were utilized to analyze the key components of economic development, determinants of inclusive economy, and to present the research results effectively. Findings. The research identified key determinants of inclusive economy formation in the Middle East countries and analyzed its socio-economic consequences. Effective institutions, including the legal system, political structures, and regulatory mechanisms, were found to play a vital role in shaping an inclusive economy. Countries with strong and stable institutions have a better chance of developing an inclusive economy. Education and access to quality education were identified as critical factors for ensuring economic inclusiveness. A high level of education contributes to the development of a skilled workforce and increased employment. The study emphasizes the importance of developing sectors of the economy that create a high number of jobs and involve various social groups in the production processes, such as the development of small and medium-sized businesses. Effective social policies were highlighted for reducing inequality and combating poverty, as social programs and support mechanisms can contribute to inclusive economic development. The geopolitical situation, international relations, international trade, and foreign investments also significantly influence the formation of an inclusive economy and its impact on the socio-economic development of countries. Originality. This research focuses on the study of inclusive economy in the Middle East, which is a relevant and important area of research in modern economic and political science. Many studies in this field concentrate on Western countries, while this article focuses on a region with a unique socio-cultural and economic environment. A comprehensive approach to the study of inclusive economy was applied, taking into account various factors such as institutions, education, economic sectors, social policies, and external influences. This provides a more complete understanding of how inclusiveness in the economy is formed. The research also considers the impact of geopolitical factors on the development of an inclusive economy in the studied region, which is crucial for understanding the specific challenges and opportunities. Practical value. The research findings provide a basis for developing specific recommendations for Middle East countries in forming policies for an inclusive economy. These recommendations can serve as a foundation for the development and implementation of measures aimed at increasing economic inclusiveness and improving the quality of life for the population. The research results can be used by governing bodies to make informed strategic decisions regarding economic development and social policies to enhance economic inclusiveness, identify priority tasks for forming a more inclusive economy. Taking into account geopolitical aspects in the research has a significant impact on international relations and cooperation between Middle East countries and other nations, contributing to attracting investments and entrepreneurship development in the region. This creates new opportunities for economic growth and reduces unemployment through the implementation of programs and measures aimed at reducing social inequality and poverty in Middle East countries.

Гранты как инструмент реализации социальных инициатив молодежных организаций в Российской Федерации

Subject. This work is devoted to the implementation of social initiatives of youth organizations in the Russian Federation. Goal. The aim of the research is to develop specific measures for the development of social initiatives of youth organizations in the Lipetsk region. Method or methodology. The research is based on general scientific methodology, which involves the use of a systematic approach and general scientific methods of knowledge. The results of the work. The paper reveals the essence of grantmaking, the origins and relevance of social work as a phenomenon of the modern world. In the spirit of the aid philosophy paradigm, the principles of socially oriented grantmaking activities in the Russian Federation are revealed. The proposed activities to develop youth initiatives are studied in the department of youth initiatives and projects of the Department of Youth Policy of Lipetsk region, in the department of youth initiatives and projects implementation. Conclusions. Social grants are one of the mechanisms of social support, which aims to ensure the availability and quality of social services for various categories of the population in the Russian Federation. The evaluation of the effectiveness and prospects for the development of social grants provides an opportunity for analysis and development of this important area of social work. In the long run, the improvement of social grant mechanisms will increase the welfare and improve the quality of life of citizens in the Russian Federation.

Ways to Improve the Quality of Life of the Population as a Factor of Human Potential with Limited Financial Resources of the State

The subject of the study is individual elements of the financial mechanism of social support of the population. The purpose of the work is to establish ways to improve the quality of life of the population as a factor of human potential. The non-identity of the concepts of the level and quality of life of the population is revealed by bringing the indices of their measurement. The indicators of the quality of life assessment, including the human development index and its components, are considered. The role of the quality of life assessment indicator in inter-budgetary relations is demonstrated. The necessity of taking into account the improvement of the human development index and the birth rate in order to allocate additional transfers of funds to the regions that have achieved an improvement in these indicators is substantiated. Low-cost measures to increase the life expectancy of the population are highlighted. First of all, it is the promotion of a healthy lifestyle by changing the taxation of food; more active use of electronic databases of the population to assess the quality of treatment; the impact of lifestyle on its duration. The modern education system is critically comprehended. Alternative less costly and more effective educational models are proposed to improve the quality of human potential. In order to improve the living standards of the poor part of the population, it is proposed to pay more attention at the state and regional levels to family enterprises that do not use the labor of employees, with the provision of tax and registration benefits to them. The expediency of the development of natural forms of assistance to the most disadvantaged segments of the population in return for the allocation of sums of money is proved. The conclusion is made about the need to reform the modern high-cost system of stimulating fertility and its reorientation to large families (with three or more children).

Kadın öğrencilerin doktorayı terk etme nedenleri: Hayal kırıklığı ve bakım yükü

Pek çok ülkede kadınların doktorayı terk oranlarının erkeklerin terk oranından daha fazla olduğu görülmüştür. Bu nitel çalışmanın amacı kadın öğrencilerin doktora programlarını neden bıraktıklarını keşfetmektir. Ayrıca kadın öğrencilerin doktora programlarını tamamlamaları için ihtiyaç duydukları politika önerilerini sunmak amaçlanmıştır. Araştırma Ankara’daki bir devlet üniversitesinde kayıtlı oldukları doktora programını terk etmiş beş kadın öğrenciyle derinlemesine görüşmelere dayalı bir vaka çalışmasıdır. Araştırmanın bulgularında kadın öğrencilerin doktora terk nedenleri olarak akademik hayal kırıklığı, ev içi sorumluluklar, kurumsal eksiklikler ve finansal nedenler ön plana çıkmıştır. Tüm bu faktörlerin sonucunda kadın öğrencilerin ciddi bir motivasyon kaybı yaşadıkları tespit edilmiştir. Araştırma, kurumların ve politika yapıcıların terki engellemek için derinlemesine araştırma yapması gerektiğini, doktora öğrencilerinin motivasyonlarını düşüren olumsuzluklar için finansal ve sosyal destek mekanizmalarının etkin kullanılmasını ve araştırma görevlisi kadrolarının sayısının artırılması terki azaltacak öneriler olarak sunmaktadır.

COMPASSIONATE LOVE AND LONELINESS: LATER LIFE MENTAL HEALTH IN THE UNITED STATES

Abstract Loneliness is a serious public health problem that affects over 25% of older adults and is associated with an increased risk of depression, cognitive decline, and premature death. Previous research on social support mechanisms that contribute to loneliness has consistently illustrated the role of emotional support in reducing loneliness. However, the importance of compassionate love in reducing loneliness and, as a consequence, improving psychological well-being in later life has received little attention. Neurobiology indicates that the brain regions associated with loneliness and compassion overlap, suggesting that increasing compassion-related emotions may help alleviate loneliness. Using data from a nationwide web-based survey (n=1,861), we examined the influence of compassionate love on loneliness and assessed whether loneliness mediates the relationship between compassionate love and mental health outcomes. Even after controlling for emotional support, estimates from an ordinary least squares regression (OLS) model suggest that older adults who felt loved had significantly lower levels of loneliness (b=-0.84, p< 0.001). Feeling of love also contributed to significantly fewer depressive symptoms (b=-2.03, p< 0.001) and anxiety (b=-1.07, p< 0.001). Loneliness completely mediated the effect of compassionate love on anxiety (b=-0.82, p< 0.001) and significantly mediated its influence on depressive symptoms (b=-1.18, p< 0.001). Our findings underscore the need to design interventions that increase compassionate love to reduce loneliness and improve psychological wellbeing among older adults.

COMPASSIONATE LOVE AND LONELINESS: LATER LIFE MENTAL HEALTH IN THE UNITED STATES

Abstract Loneliness is a serious public health problem that affects over 25% of older adults and is associated with an increased risk of depression, cognitive decline, and premature death. Previous research on social support mechanisms that contribute to loneliness has consistently illustrated the role of emotional support in reducing loneliness. However, the importance of compassionate love in reducing loneliness and, as a consequence, improving psychological well-being in later life has received little attention. Neurobiology indicates that the brain regions associated with loneliness and compassion overlap, suggesting that increasing compassion-related emotions may help alleviate loneliness. Using data from a nationwide web-based survey (n=1,861), we examined the influence of compassionate love on loneliness and assessed whether loneliness mediates the relationship between compassionate love and mental health outcomes. Even after controlling for emotional support, estimates from an ordinary least squares regression (OLS) model suggest that older adults who felt loved had significantly lower levels of loneliness (b=-0.84, p< 0.001). Feeling of love also contributed to significantly fewer depressive symptoms (b=-2.03, p< 0.001) and anxiety (b=-1.07, p< 0.001). Loneliness completely mediated the effect of compassionate love on anxiety (b=-0.82, p< 0.001) and significantly mediated its influence on depressive symptoms (b=-1.18, p< 0.001). Our findings underscore the need to design interventions that increase compassionate love to reduce loneliness and improve psychological wellbeing among older adults.

Social support as a mediator of the relationship between forgiveness and post-traumatic growth in hemodialysis patients: A structural equation modeling approach.

Post-traumatic growth (PTG) refers to the positive psychological changes experienced with individuals after struggling with highly challenging life circumstances. Forgiveness can facilitate positive outcomes such as reduced distress, anxiety, and depression. Many studies have tested the relationships among forgiveness, social support, and PTG; however, a mechanism of social support has not been completely explored in hemodialysis patients. To test the relationship between forgiveness and post-traumatic growth and verify the mediating factor of social support on the relationship between forgiveness and PTG in hemodialysis patients. In a descriptive cross-sectional study using convenience sampling from March to May 2021, 497 hemodialysis patients from nine hospitals filled out the Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS), Heartland Forgiveness Scale (HFS), Post-traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), and general information. Data were analyzed using SPSS, and structural equation modeling was used to explore the relationships among forgiveness, social support, and PTG. Forgiveness was significantly positively associated with PTG (P < 0.01). The proposed model provided a good fit to the data. Social support was found to play a partial mediating role between forgiveness and PTG (a*b = 0.122, BCa 95% CI: 0.078∼0.181). The results imply that forgiveness significantly directly and indirectly is related to PTG. Forgiveness in hemodialysis patients should be detected and effectively managed to ameliorate positive effects on PTG. It is necessary for nurses to consider implementing forgiveness interventions with an emphasis on building social support strategies to help hemodialysis patients enhance their PTG.

Impact of Covid-19 on informal employment: A case study of women domestic workers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

COVID-19 indiscriminately impacted all the segments of the global society. Due to the unstructured job market, women in the informal sector were at high risk to experience the adverse effects of the pandemic. This paper aims to explore the impact of COVID-19 on women domestic workers and their families. Semi structured interviews conducted with fifty-four women domestic workers in three districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan were analyzed in five themes: disruption caused by lockdown, loss of livelihood, economic hardships, social support mechanism, and challenges faced during the pandemic. The study underlines that the pandemic left severe impacts on access to basic services, employment, food security at household level and pattern of expenditures. The plummeting economic activities led to sudden drops in earnings that forced families to sell their assets and incur debts. Respondents lamented over the social support system and considered it a necessary but not sufficient condition for uplifting the lives of the poor. Strains in marital relationships led to stress, anxiety and domestic violence among families. The utmost concern was the restoration of economic activities and urgent policy interventions to strengthen social safety measures for the vulnerable segments of society.

Exploring links between Chinese military recruits' psychological stress and coping style from the person-environment fit perspective: The chain mediating effect of self-efficacy and social support.

The choice of coping style of recruits under psychological stress in the process of military task execution has been an important topic in the promotion of military operations and cohesion of military forces. Taking a positive coping style under psychological stress can help recruits overcome the negative effects of stress and improve military morale and group combat effectiveness. Although soldiers' psychological stress in the process of military mission execution having an impact on coping style has been studied by a large body of literature, very little literature has focused on the mechanism of self-efficacy and social support between recruits' psychological stress and coping style from the person-environment fit perspective. Therefore, this study was conducted to analyze the impact of recruits' psychological stress on coping style through a chain mediation model and to discuss the role of self-efficacy and social support in this relationship. Two waves of survey data were utilized to test the research hypotheses on a sample of 1028 Chinese recruits performing military tasks. The results indicated that recruits' psychological stress negatively impacted positive coping styles and positively correlated with negative ones. In addition, self-efficacy and social support mediated the relationship between psychological stress and positive coping style, and self-efficacy mediated the relationship between psychological stress and negative coping style. More importantly, self-efficacy and social support play the chain mediating effect between psychological stress and positive coping style.

Governing contingencies by proxy: a governmentality approach on social supports in Istanbul under mutual uncertainty

ABSTRACT Contingencies comprise immediate possibilities and aleatory interactions in the form of calculated responses to mutual uncertainties. While contingencies are critically important to governmental policies, yet they have been rarely considered in social analysis. The aim of this study is to analyze how the Covid-19 pandemic as a crisis has been governed both against and through contingencies by investigating the social support measures initiated by the Turkish government and the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM). We gathered empirical data qualitatively from 12 in-depth interviews with the officers of local government and NGOs, supplemented by official documents. We found that contingencies are produced and become residual through configurational interdependencies, such as competition between the central and local government, unemployment, inadequate support, standardization, path dependency, and lack of diversification in need assessment. This study revealed that governmental practices are governed through contingent possibilities and interactions under mutual uncertainty and the politics of crisis management and conflict between local and central authority changed social support mechanisms.

Promotion of Parenting and Mental Health Needs among Chinese Women Living in Japan: A Qualitative Study.

Chinese women raising children in Japan tend to experience high parenting stress and poor mental well-being. However, their specific parenting and mental health promotion needs remain unknown. This study aimed to explore the parenting and mental health promotion needs of Chinese women living in Japan and provide recommendations to guide interventions. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted. Participants included 15 women aged 28–39 years who were pregnant or rearing a child younger than six years old. Thematic analysis was performed for data analysis. More than half of the participants experienced mental health problems, such as depressive symptoms and child-rearing stress. Four themes relating to their needs were identified: concrete support, information provision, caring and understanding, and social network building. Information provision and social network building should be emphasized as practical social support mechanisms to improve these women’s mental health. Furthermore, a mental health promotion intervention should be developed to address this vulnerable population’s needs. Healthcare providers and public health workers should help improve the social support systems of Chinese women in Japan to prevent mental health problems. Potential transcultural education can, arguably, help healthcare providers better understand transcultural care.

Taking Professional Commitment as the Intermediary: Exploring the Mechanism of Social Support Affecting Student Engagement of Special Education Normal Students

Taking Professional Commitment as the Intermediary: Exploring the Mechanism of Social Support Affecting Student Engagement of Special Education Normal Students

Linking social features of fitness apps with physical activity among Chinese users: Evidence from self-reported and self-tracked behavioral data

This study systematically examines the effects of mobile health (mHealth) on physical activity in a Chinese fitness app (WeRun). Drawing on the theory of reasoned action, we identified several psychosocial mechanisms for understanding mHealth effects and unpacked these mechanisms through a survey with 403 WeRun users. We also collected self-tracked behavioral data on the daily step counts of the participants over the previous week of the study. As predicted, exercise intention was a strong predictor of self-tracked physical activity. The results provide compelling support for the social support, social comparison, and attitudinal mechanisms in motivating physical activity via fitness apps. For social support features, informational support was indirectly associated with stronger exercise intention via the mediation of attitudes towards exercise. The esteem support was directly associated with stronger exercise intention. For social comparison features, upward and downward comparisons were associated with exercise intention via attitudes towards exercise but in opposite directions. The findings are discussed for theoretical implications for understanding mHealth behaviors and practical implications in mHealth design.

Geographic Proximity of Family Members and Healthcare Utilization After Complex Surgical Procedures.

We sought to determine the relationship between a patient's proximal familial social support, defined as the geographic proximity of family members, and healthcare utilization after complex cardiovascular and oncologic procedures. Social support mechanisms are increasingly identified as modifiable risk factors for healthcare utilization. We performed a retrospective cohort study of 60,895 patients undergoing complex cardiovascular procedures or oncologic procedures. We defined healthcare utilization outcomes as 30-day all-cause readmission unplanned readmission, nonindex hospital readmission, index hospital length of stay, and home discharge disposition. For each patient, we aggregated the number of first-degree relatives (FDR) living within 30 miles of the patient's home address at the time of the surgical procedure into the following categories: 0 to 1, 2 to 3, 4 to 5, 6+ FDRs. We developed hierarchical multivariable regression models to determine the relationship between the number of FDR living within 30 miles of the patient and the healthcare utilization outcomes. Compared with patients with 0 to 1 FDRs, patients with 6+ FDRs living in close proximity had significantly lower rates of all-cause readmission (12.1% vs 13.5%, P <0.001), unplanned readmission (10.9% vs 12.0%, P =0.001), nonindex readmission (2.6% vs 3.2%, P =0.003); higher rates of home discharge (88.0% vs 85.3%, P <0.001); and shorter length of stay (7.3 vs 7.5 days, P =0.02). After multivariable adjustment, a larger number of FDRs living within 30 miles of the patient was significantly associated with a lower likelihood of all-cause readmission ( P <0.001 for trend), 30-day unplanned readmission ( P <0.001), nonindex readmission ( P <0.001); higher likelihood of home discharge ( P <0.001); and shorter index length of stay ( P <0.001). The geographic proximity of family members is significantly associated with decreased healthcare utilization after complex cardiovascular and oncologic surgical procedures.

The role of religiosity and religious participation in the relationship between depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment among older Indian adults

Due to different nature of social engagements of older adults in South Asian countries specially attributed to the traditional family-based care and support, beneficial effects of religiosity and religious involvement on mental health and cognitive function in older age might be different than those in the Western world. Yet, there is a paucity of research in these countries on the role of religion in moderating the relationship between late life depression and cognition. This study explored the association of depressive symptoms with cognitive impairment and the moderating effects of religiosity and religious participation in those associations among older Indian adults. A cross-sectional study was conducted on data that were drawn from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India wave-1, collected during 2017–2018. The sample size comprised of 31,464 older adults aged 60 years and above. Shortened 10-item Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale was used to measure depressive symptoms. Items from the Mini-Mental State Examination and the cognitive module of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study and the Mexican Health and Aging Study were adapted for measuring cognitive impairment. Moderated multiple linear regression models were used to test the research hypotheses of the study. The proportion of older adults who reported religion as less important to them was 21.24%, whereas, only 19.31% of the respondents participated in religious activities. The mean score of cognitive impairment (on a scale of 0–43) in the current sample was 19.43 [confidence interval (CI): 19.32–19.53] among men and 23.55 [CI: 23.44–23.66] among women. Older adults with depressive symptoms had significantly higher likelihood of cognitive impairment [aCoef: 0.18, CI: 0.16–0.20] in comparison to older adults with no depressive symptoms. Older individuals who were religious were significantly less likely to have cognitive impairment [aCoef: − 0.43, CI: − 0.61 to − 0.25] than their non-religious counterparts. Compared to older adults who did not participate in religious activities, those who participated in religious activities were less likely [aCoef: − 0.52, CI: − 0.69 to − 0.34] to have cognitive impairment. Further, significant moderating effects of religiosity and religious participation in the relationship between depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment were observed. The current study contributes to advancing knowledge about the mental health benefits of religiosity and religious participation by focusing on older adults in India who culturally have limited chances to participate in social activities. The findings suggest that older adults with depressive symptoms may participate in religious activities which may reduce their chances of cognitive impairment. This protective effect of religiosity and religious participation on late life cognitive health has important implications for promoting alternative social support mechanisms for older adults in terms of enhancing their mental wellbeing and contributing to active aging.

The Protective Effect of Culture on Depression During Covid-19 Pandemic: A Romanian National Study

Previous studies indicated that collectivism represents a protective factor against depressive disorders, even among vulnerable populations. The protective effect of collectivism in relation to depressive disorders is often attributed to the social support networks available to individuals in collectivistic societies. The current study aims to investigate the protective effect of collectivism in the relationship between psychological vulnerabilities and depression. Moreover, we examined whether the protective effect of collectivism in relation to depression can be explained through the mechanism of social support. We measured individualism-collectivism for 42 Romanian counties ( n = 2,882) before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data for irrational cognitions, depression, and social support were collected online during the lockdown in Romania ( n = 5,310). All instruments showed acceptable measurement and scalar invariance across regions. In a multi-level regression model, county-level collectivism was associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms b = −.032, 95% CI [−0.045; −0.019], while irrational cognitions were positively associated with depression b = .474, 95% CI [0.438; 0.510]. The interaction between irrational beliefs and collectivism had a significant and negative effect on depression, b = −.004, 95% CI [−0.008; −0.000]. The indirect effect of collectivism on depression via social support was tested in a two-level SEM model. Explicit and implicit social support were not significant mediators. Collectivism was negatively associated with the perceived availability of explicit social support, b = −.043, 95% CI [−0.074; −0.012]. The results support a general protective effect of collectivism on mental health but cast doubt that the mechanism for this effect is related to social support.

Research on the influencing factors of agricultural product purchase willingness in social e-commerce situation

Abstract From the perspective of social e-commerce, this paper discusses the influencing factors and mechanism of purchase intention of agricultural products. Based on the stimulus–organism–response model, this paper constructs the relationship model of agricultural product characteristics, social trust, social stickiness, social support, social interaction, consumer perceived value and consumer purchase intention; the related hypotheses are found, and the hypothesis and the structural model are verified by analysing the data. The results show that the characteristics of agricultural products, social stickiness, social support, social interaction and consumer perceived value are the key factors that influence the purchase intention of agricultural products. Perceived value is the intermediary mechanism of social stickiness, social support, social interaction and purchase intention.

Relationship with the Father of the Baby and Pregnancy-Related Anxiety among Pregnant Black Women.

Pregnancy-related anxiety may increase the risk of preterm birth. Effective coping strategies and social support may help minimize pregnancy-related anxiety. Secondary analysis of cross-sectional data. A sample of 408 pregnant non-Hispanic Black women completed questionnaires between 19 and 31 weeks gestation. Mediation analysis with structural equation modeling was used to explore effects of the relationship with the father of the baby on pregnancy-related anxiety. Support from the father of the baby was negatively associated with avoidance coping ( r = -.22, p < .001) and pregnancy-related anxiety ( r = - .17, p < .001), whereas conflict with the father of the baby was positively associated with avoidance coping ( r = .37, p < .001) and pregnancy-related anxiety ( r = .29, p < .001). Avoidance coping was positively associated with pregnancy-related anxiety ( r = .34, p < .001). After adjustment, avoidance coping partially mediated the effect of conflict with the father of the baby on pregnancy-related anxiety. Discussions with women about management of pregnancy-related anxiety should consider her current social support and coping mechanisms. Providers should offer support and resources on adaptive coping strategies.