Beyond Emotional Care: Quantifying the Impact of Social Support on Maternal Psychological Well-being during First Pregnancy

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy, particularly among primigravida women, represents a critical transitional period often accompanied by emotional and psychological challenges.  This study aimed to examine the relationship between perceived social support and psychological well-being among primigravida women and to identify key predictors influencing maternal mental health during pregnancy. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 primigravida women attending antenatal care services. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire that included sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics, a validated social support scale, and a standardized psychological well-being scale. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics. Descriptive statistics summarized participant characteristics, while Pearson correlation assessed the relationship between social support and psychological well-being. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to identify independent predictors. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Participants reported high levels of perceived social support (mean = 33.83 ± 5.42), primarily from husbands and family members. Psychological well-being scores were moderate (mean = 28.83 ± 4.87). A strong positive correlation was observed between social support and psychological well-being (r = 0.62, p < 0.001). Regression analysis indicated that social support was the strongest predictor of psychological well-being (β = 0.55, p < 0.001), followed by education level (β = 0.14, p = 0.021) and income (β = 0.13, p = 0.024).  CONCLUSION: Social support significantly enhances psychological well-being among first-time pregnant women. Integrating psychosocial support into routine antenatal care and strengthening family-based support systems are recommended to improve maternal mental health outcomes.