Understanding maternal wellness: The role of social support and adjustment during early pregnancy
Abstract
Background: Maternal wellness during early pregnancy is influenced by social support and psychological adjustment. Social support buffers stress and is linked to reduced anxiety, depression, and improved maternal and fetal outcomes. Adjustment, defined as psychological and behavioral adaptation to pregnancy, plays a crucial role in maternal health. Rural settings, with limited healthcare resources and traditional gender roles, present unique challenges to maternal wellness. Aims: This research aimed to study the relationship between maternal wellness, social support, and psychological adjustment during early pregnancy. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 60 pregnant women in their first trimester, aged 18 years and above, at a tertiary care hospital in rural India. Sociodemographic data were collected. Brief Adjustment Scale-6, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and General Health Questionnaire-28 were administered to assess adjustment, social support, and psychological distress, respectively. Statistical analyses evaluated associations between these variables. Results: Among the participants, 60% experienced high adjustment difficulties, while 63.3% reported psychological distress (mild: 30%, moderate: 20%, severe: 13.3%). Social support was moderate for 53.3% and high for 46.7%, with no reports of low support. Significant associations were observed between social support and adjustment (P = 0.01), social support and distress (P = 0.09), and adjustment and distress (P = 0.01). Conclusion: Maternal wellness during early pregnancy is shaped by the interplay of social support and psychological adjustment. Enhancing social support and integrating mental health services into prenatal care can improve maternal and fetal outcomes, particularly in rural settings.
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BibTeX
@article{lolla2026understanding,
title = {{Understanding maternal wellness: The role of social support and adjustment during early pregnancy}},
author = {Venkata Kalyan Raghava Lolla and Therissa Benerji Ganta and Madhavi Kodali},
journal = {Journal of Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.4103/jdrntruhs.jdrntruhs_33_25},
url = {https://doi.org/10.4103/jdrntruhs.jdrntruhs_33_25},
note = {CC BY-NC-SA},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Understanding maternal wellness: The role of social support and adjustment during early pregnancy
AU - Venkata Kalyan Raghava Lolla
AU - Therissa Benerji Ganta
AU - Madhavi Kodali
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - Journal of Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences
DO - 10.4103/jdrntruhs.jdrntruhs_33_25
UR - https://doi.org/10.4103/jdrntruhs.jdrntruhs_33_25
AB - Background: Maternal wellness during early pregnancy is influenced by social support and psychological adjustment. Social support buffers stress and is linked to reduced anxiety, depression, and improved maternal and fetal outcomes. Adjustment, defined as psychological and behavioral adaptation to pregnancy, plays a crucial role in maternal health. Rural settings, with limited healthcare resources and traditional gender roles, present unique challenges to maternal wellness. Aims: This research aimed to study the relationship between maternal wellness, social support, and psychological adjustment during early pregnancy. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 60 pregnant women in their first trimester, aged 18 years and above, at a tertiary care hospital in rural India. Sociodemographic data were collected. Brief Adjustment Scale-6, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and General Health Questionnaire-28 were administered to assess adjustment, social support, and psychological distress, respectively. Statistical analyses evaluated associations between these variables. Results: Among the participants, 60% experienced high adjustment difficulties, while 63.3% reported psychological distress (mild: 30%, moderate: 20%, severe: 13.3%). Social support was moderate for 53.3% and high for 46.7%, with no reports of low support. Significant associations were observed between social support and adjustment (P = 0.01), social support and distress (P = 0.09), and adjustment and distress (P = 0.01). Conclusion: Maternal wellness during early pregnancy is shaped by the interplay of social support and psychological adjustment. Enhancing social support and integrating mental health services into prenatal care can improve maternal and fetal outcomes, particularly in rural settings.
SN - 2278-1889
SN - 2277-8632
ER -