The effect of social support based intervention on COVID-19 anxiety in pregnant Women: A randomized pretest-posttest control group design

Introduction : Pregnancy is a period characterized by various physical and psychological transformations and increased vulnerability to mental disorders. Addressing factors that cause anxiety due to COVID-19 is important. Thus, the present study was conducted to examine the impact of an educational intervention derived from social support on COVID-19 anxiety in pregnant women referred to centers affiliated with Mashhad city. Methods : A randomized pre test-post test control group study was conducted to assess the effect of an educational intervention based on social support model on COVID-19 anxiety among pregnant women in Mashhad, 2022. A total of 110 pregnant women referred to comprehensive health service centers in Mashhad were recruited through a two-stage random sampling method and then randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. The intervention group participated in a 7-session educational program, with each session lasting 60 minutes. The program was developed based on the social support model, involved spouses and included group discussions, lectures, and question-and-answer sessions. Data were collected using the MOS Social Support Scale and the COVID-19 Anxiety Scale. SPSS version 20 software was used for data analysis. Results : The overall social support and its dimensions—emotional, informational, tangible, affectionate, and positive social interaction—were significantly higher in the intervention group compared to the control group(p < 0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in COVID-19 anxiety between the two groups after the intervention (p < 0.05). Conclusions : This study reveals that providing educational intervention based on social support theory to pregnant women can help decrease anxiety during disease outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, while also enhancing satisfaction.