Correlation study of pregnancy stress, pre-pregnancy health care behavior and coping style of pregnant women

Abstract

Objective·To assess the levels of pregnancy-related stress, pre-pregnancy health care behaviors, and coping styles among pregnant women,analyze the influencing factors of pregnancy stress and provide insights for the management of pregnancy health in expectant mothers.Methods·A total of 265 pregnant women receiving treatment at the Obstetrics Clinic of the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University from April to August 2022 were included as participants. General information questionnaires, pre-pregnancy health care behavior questionnaires, pregnancy stress scales and simple coping style questionnaires were utilized for data collection. After obtaining the consent of the patients, assessments on pregnancy stress levels, pre-pregnancy health care behaviors, and coping styles were conducted.Results·The overall average score for pregnancy stress among pregnant women was 1.05±0.41. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that age, number of pregnancies, history of threatened abortion, fetal gender expectations, attending prenatal education classes or reviewing relevant manuals significantly influenced pregnancy-related stresses (P<0.05). The score of pre-pregnancy health care behavior was 10.09±2.63 with proportions indicating high-level, medium-level, and low-level adherence at 17.36%, 54.34%,and 28.30%. In pregnant women, the total score for coping styles was 27.22±9.68, with a positive coping dimension score of 17.79±9.84 and a negative coping dimension score of 9.42±7.39. Pearson correlation analyses demonstrated a negative association between pregnancy-related stresses and pre-pregnancy health care behaviors (r=-0.313, P<0.01), and a negative correlation between pregnancy-related stresses and coping styles (r=-0.163, P<0.01), while a positive relationship existed between pre-pregnancy health care behaviors and coping styles (r=0.220, P<0.01).Conclusion·Pregnant women experience moderate levels of pressure during their pregnancies and have suboptimal engagement in preconceptional healthcare practices. Nursing staff should intensify efforts towards disseminating knowledge on preconceptional healthcare practices, thereby empowering women of childbearing age to actively acquire pertinent reproductive-health knowledge prior to conception so that minimizing adverse maternal-infant outcomes, optimizing maternal-infant healthcare strategies, and enhancing overall well-being can be achieved through these measures.

Keywords

• pregnancy period
• health care behavior
• pregnancy stress
• coping style