Current status and influencing factors of pregnancy related anxiety in Chinese pregnant women: a cross sectional study

Objectives: This study aimed to: (1) Rigorously validate the Chinese PrAS-S psychometrically; (2) Precisely determine pregnancy-related anxiety prevalence and severity among pregnant women; (3) Scrutinize its significant influencing factors. Background: Given pregnancy-related anxiety’s importance for maternal mental health, we used PrAS-S for a cross-sectional study of 300 Urumqi pregnant women. We aimed to evaluate anxiety levels, analyze status and factors, and support clinical psychological nursing. Methods: Employing convenience sampling, 300 pregnant women from three Urumqi tertiary hospitals were surveyed with general and Chinese PrAS-S questionnaires. Univariate and multiple linear regression analyses explored determinants and assessed the scale’s reliability and validity. Results: The Chinese PrAS-S proved reliable and valid. CR values for differentiation were 9.670 - 18.920, I-CVI 0.83 - 1, Cronbach's α 0.778 - 0.906, and test-retest correlation coefficients 0.857 - 1. The prevalence of pregnancy-related anxiety was 61.67% (185/300). Age, marital status, gestational age, marital satisfaction, baby's gender expectation, and concurrent pregnancy complications had a profound impact. Conclusions: The Chinese PrAS-S is a convenient, reliable tool for quickly assessing pregnancy-related anxiety. With a high incidence rate, preventive and intervention strategies, considering influencing factors, must be strengthened to protect pregnant women's mental health.