The Impact of Perceived Social Support During Pregnancy on Postpartum Infant-Focused Anxieties: A Prospective Cohort Study of Mothers in Northern Jordan

Heba H Hijazi,1,2 Mohammad S Alyahya,2 Rabah M Al Abdi,3 Main N Alolayyan,2 Amer M Sindiani,4 Liqaa A Raffee,5 Wegdan A Baniissa,6 Amina M Al Marzouqi1 1Department of Health Services Administration, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; 2Department of Health Management and Policy, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 3Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 4Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 5Department of Accident and Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 6Nursing Department, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab EmiratesCorrespondence: Heba H HijaziDepartment of Health Services Administration, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab EmiratesEmail hhijazi@sharjah.ac.aeObjective: This study aimed to evaluate the association between perceived social support during pregnancy and levels of anxiety among postpartum women using an anxiety-specific screening instrument.Methods: Using a prospective cohort design, a two-stage methodology was conducted to collect data from women seeking maternal care at the King Abdullah University Hospital in northern Jordan. In the first stage, perceived social support was assessed among pregnant women using the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey. During the first six months after childbirth, postpartum women were contacted to complete the second stage, wherein their perceptions of infant-focused anxieties were assessed using the Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale. In our study, two types of infant-focused anxieties were investigated among a final sample of 419 mothers: infant safety and welfare anxieties and practical infant care anxieties.Results: The results of multivariate linear regression ...