A two-wave survey study examining the impact of different sources of pregnancy information on pregnancy-related anxiety among Swedish women.

Abstract

Introduction: During pregnancy, women rely on a variety of sources to obtain information. However, not all of these sources are equally reliable, and there is the concern that especially online information-seeking may increase pregnancy-related anxiety. This study examines to what extent different sources of pregnancy information are associated with concurrent pregnancy-related anxiety (RQ1) and changes in pregnancy-related anxiety throughout the pregnancy (RQ2).

Methods: This study was integrated into the ongoing Swedish Mom2B study (sub-study data collection: December 2022-April 2024), where women complete weekly questionnaires via a research app. Each trimester, they received questions about their use of information sources and pregnancy-related anxiety.

Results: Our sample consisted of 751 pregnant women (273 with at least two waves of data). Using the midwife (β= -0.14, p<0.001; 95% CI: -3.32 - -1.13) or social circle (β= -0.08, p<0.05; 95% CI: -2.83 - -0.07) as a source of pregnancy-and childbirth-related information was associated with lower levels of pregnancy-related anxiety. In contrast, reliance on online sources for information was associated with higher levels of anxiety (β=0.14, p<0.001; 95% CI: 1.52-5.03). Except for (e-)books, which lowered the odds of improving anxiety (OR=0.62, p<0.01; 95% CI: 0.45-0.85), none of the information sources predicted changes in pregnancy-related anxiety over time.

Conclusions: Not all information sources play an equal role in relation to pregnancy-related anxiety. Interpersonal sources in particular may help mitigate anxiety. However, future research with more nuanced methodologies and shorter measurement intervals could clarify possible causal relationships and refine our understanding of how various information sources affect pregnancy-related anxiety over time.