Quality of life and social support during pregnancy in Spanish population. A longitudinal study

Abstract

Background: The quality of life and social support during pregnancy are two variables influencing the health of pregnants and neonates. The documented impact of these variables on mental health, specifically the risk of depression, is notable. Aim: To investigate the evolution of quality of life and social support at the beginning and end of pregnancy in pregnant women, and to examine the relationship between these variables. Methods: The proposed longitudinal study includes 188 pregnants from a northern region of Spain. Participants were selected through consecutive sampling from September 2021 to April 2023. Quality of life and social support will be assessed in the first and third trimesters of pregnancy using the SF-36 questionnaire and MOS-SSS questionnaire, respectively. Findings: The questionnaires show strong internal consistency (α = 0.91 and 0.97). Quality of life changes during pregnancy, declining in the physical component and rising in the mental component towards the end. Primiparous women have higher quality of life. Depression risk is 29.8 % in the 1st trimester, dropping to 22.9 % in the 3rd trimester. Social support decreases in the 3rd trimester, particularly among unmarried women. Significant positive correlations exist between quality of life and social support. Conclusion: This study emphasizes notable variations in quality of life and social support during pregnancy, impacting the health of pregnant individuals and neonates. Proposing standardization in monitoring these factors during prenatal check-ups aims to improve the physical and mental health of pregnant individuals and newborns.