ArticleBMC pregnancy and childbirth2026
Perceived partner support during pregnancy and its associations with anxiety, antenatal care utilization, and fear of childbirth: a cross-sectional mediation analysis.
Article in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundPerceived partner support during pregnancy influences maternal mental health and antenatal care utilization. However, limited evidence exists regarding how different dimensions of partner support relate to pregnancy-related anxiety and fear of childbirth, and the mechanisms underlying these associations. This study examined the associations between perceived partner support, pregnancy-related anxiety, antenatal care utilization, and fear of childbirth, and explored the mediating role of pregnancy-related anxiety.
methodsA total of 331 pregnant women were included in this cross-sectional study. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, the Perceived Partner Support Scale, the Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Scale, and the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire. Binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the determinants of regular antenatal care utilization. Hierarchical linear regression analysis was conducted to examine the determinants of pregnancy-related anxiety. After controlling for sociodemographic and relational variables, a mediation analysis was conducted using Hayes' PROCESS macro (Model 4) with 5,000 bootstrap samples.
resultsFinancial support was a significant negative predictor of pregnancy-related anxiety (B = - 2.19, p < 0.001), while pregnancy-related anxiety was positively associated with fear of childbirth (B = 0.88, p < 0.001). Financial support also had a significant direct effect on fear of childbirth (B = - 1.47, p = 0.002). The mediation analysis showed that pregnancy-related anxiety partially mediated the relationship between financial support and fear of childbirth (indirect effect = - 1.93, 95%CI [- 2.73, - 1.27]). Additionally, the logistic regression analysis indicated that financial support significantly increased the likelihood of regular antenatal care utilization (OR = 1.66, p = 0.024), while higher pregnancy-related anxiety was associated with a decreased likelihood of regular antenatal care utilization (OR = 0.91, p = 0.014). All models were statistically significant (p < 0.001).
conclusionPartner support during pregnancy plays a multifaceted role in maternal psychological well-being and health-related behaviors. Partners' financial support emerged as a key protective factor associated with lower pregnancy-related anxiety, reduced fear of childbirth, and greater utilization of antenatal care. Pregnancy-related anxiety serves as an important mediating mechanism. These findings underscore the importance of family-centered antenatal care approaches that actively involve partners and address both psychosocial and structural support needs.
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