Information Acquisition, Social Support, and Loneliness Among Pregnant Women in Japan: A Cross-Sectional Web Survey

Problem: Loneliness during pregnancy affects well-being and engagement with maternity services. Background: Pregnant women access health information through digital and interpersonal sources. However, relationships between information acquisition patterns, social support, and loneliness remain unclear. Aim: To examine relationships among pregnancy-related health information acquisition, social support, and loneliness among pregnant women in Japan; describe information sources; and assess their associations with support and loneliness. Methods: A nationwide web-based cross-sectional survey was conducted with pregnant women at ≥20 weeks’ gestation. Loneliness and social support were assessed using the 10-item UCLA Loneliness Scale and 8-item Social Support Questionnaire. We collected data on the number and types of sources and the perceived need for antenatal education. Data were analyzed using non-parametric tests and multiple linear regressions. Results: We analyzed 499 responses (mean loneliness score=21.7, SD=5.1). Most participants (95.2%) used at least one information source (mean=2.6, SD=1.8) and 25.9% reported no need for antenatal education. More information sources, supporters, and higher support satisfaction were linked to lower loneliness in univariate analyses. In multivariate models, higher educational attainment, number of information sources, number of supporters, and support satisfaction remained independently associated with lower loneliness, whereas no desire for antenatal education did not. Discussion: Information acquisition and perceived support function as practice-relevant indicators of psychosocial well-being. Not wanting antenatal education may reflect perceived sufficiency or structural constraints, rather than directly influencing loneliness. Conclusions: Brief routine questions about information sources and support satisfaction may help midwives identify women needing proportionate, low-barrier education and support within woman-centered care.