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Kadkhodaei F, Niknami M, Bostani Khalesi Z, Maroufizadeh S. Relationship Between Perceived Social Support and Anxiety in Pregnant Women With a History of Abortion. JHNM 2024; 34 (4) :316-325
URL: http://hnmj.gums.ac.ir/article-1-2132-en.html

Introduction: Abortion is a shocking and traumatic event that can lead to psychological disorders, such as anxiety, in women. Perceived social support of these women can be an appropriate method for helping them deal with challenging life events after abortion.
Objective: This study aims to determine the relationship between perceived social support and anxiety in pregnant women with a history of abortion. 
Materials and Methods: In this analytical cross-sectional study, 193 pregnant women with a history of abortion participated. They were selected using a convenience sampling method from among those referred to the prenatal clinic of a hospital in Rasht, north of Iran. The data were collected by a sociodemographic/obstetric form, Spielberger’s state and trait anxiety inventory-form Y, and the multidimensional scale of perceived social support. The collected data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Spearman’s correlation test, and multiple linear regression analysis.
Results: The mean age of women was 32.1±5.6 years and their mean gestational age was 24.6±10.9 weeks. The mean total scores of perceived social support, state anxiety, and trait anxiety were 64.2±14.9, 40.8±11.9, and 38.5±12.2, respectively. A significant negative correlation was observed between perceived social support and state anxiety (r=-0.267, P=0.001) and trait anxiety (r=-0.319, P=0.001). State anxiety was significantly different based on the interval between the current pregnancy and the previous abortion, educational level, family income level, type of pregnancy, and number of prenatal care visits (P=0.001). State anxiety was significantly different based on family income level, type of pregnancy, and the interval between the current pregnancy and the previous abortion (P=0.001). Based on multiple regression analyses, higher perceived social support could significantly predict the decrease in state anxiety (B=-0.18, 95% CI; -0.30%, -0.07%, P=0.002) and trait anxiety (B=-0.24, 95% CI; -0.36%, -0.11%, P=0.001). 
Conclusion: Perceived social support can affect the state and trait anxiety of pregnant women with a history of abortion. Therefore, healthcare providers should consider the high level of anxiety in these women and provide counseling to their husbands or families to strengthen their social support for them.