DETERMINANTS OF PERCEIVED STRESS DURING PREGNANCY AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IN IGBOORA, OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Pregnancy represents a pivotal stage in a woman’s life and is frequently accompanied by substantial physical, emotional, and psychological adjustments that may affect maternal well-being. One prominent concern during this period is perceived pregnancy stress, which has been associated with unfavourable maternal and fetal outcomes. Spousal support and pregnancy-related anxiety have been identified as critical psychosocial factors influencing stress experiences during pregnancy; however, their relative contributions remain insufficiently examined within the Nigerian context, particularly in Igboora, Oyo State. This study therefore investigated the determinants of perceived stress during pregnancy among pregnant women in Igboora, Oyo State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted, involving 300 pregnant women receiving antenatal care across selected health facilities in the state. Data were collected using validated instruments, including the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire (PRAQ), and a Spousal Support Inventory. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analyses were employed to address the study objectives. Results indicated that the mean perceived stress score (PSS = 18.64, SD = 6.92) reflected a moderate level of stress among participants. Regression findings revealed that spousal support was a significant negative predictor of perceived pregnancy stress (β = −0.42, p < .001), accounting for 17.6% of the variance in stress levels. In contrast, pregnancy-related anxiety emerged as a strong positive predictor (β = +0.54, p < .001), explaining 29.2% of the variance. These findings highlight the buffering role of spousal support and the amplifying effect of anxiety on maternal stress. The study recommends increased spousal involvement in prenatal care through antenatal education and counseling, alongside routine screening for pregnancy-related anxiety. Community-based interventions should further promote emotional and practical family support to reduce maternal stress and improve pregnancy outcomes.