Associations between social support, mental wellbeing, self-efficacy and technology use in first-time antenatal women: data from the BaBBLeS cohort study

Ginja, Samuel; Coad, Jane; Bailey, Elizabeth; Kendall, Sally; Goodenough, Trudy; Nightingale, Samantha; Smiddy, Jane; Day, Crispin; Deave, Toity; Lingam, Raghu

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Information and communication technologies are used increasingly to facilitate social networks and support women during the perinatal period. This paper presents data on how technology use affects the association between women's social support and, (i) mental wellbeing and, (ii) self-efficacy in the antenatal period. METHODS: Data were collected as part of an ongoing study - the BaBBLeS study - exploring the effect of a pregnancy and maternity software application (app) on maternal wellbeing and self-efficacy. Between September 2016 and February 2017, we aimed to recruit first-time pregnant women at 12-16 gestation weeks in five maternity sites across England and asked them to complete questionnaires. Outcomes included maternal mental wellbeing (Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale), and antenatal self-efficacy (antenatal version of the Tool to Measure Parenting Self-Efficacy). Other variables assessed were perceived social support (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support), general technology use (adapted from Media and Technology Usage and Attitudes Scale). Potential confounders were age, ethnicity, education, socioeconomic deprivation, employment, relationship status and recruitment site. Linear regression models were developed to analyse the relationship between social support and the outcomes. RESULTS: Participants (n= 492, median age = 28years) were predominantly white British (64.6%). Half of them had a degree or higher degree (49.3%), most were married/living with a partner (83.6%) and employed (86.2%). Median (LQ-UQ) overall scores were 81.0 (74.0-84.0) for social support (range 12-84), 5.1 (4.7-5.4) for technology use (range 1-6), 54.0 (48.0-60.0) for mental well-being (range 14-70), and 319.0 (295.5-340) for self-efficacy (range 0-360). Social support was significantly associated with antenatal mental well-being adjusting for confounders [adj R2= 0.13, p

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 9, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Nov 12, 2019
• Publication Date: Nov 12, 2018
• Deposit Date: Nov 15, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 15, 2018
• Journal: BMC pregnancy and childbirth
• Electronic ISSN: 1471-2393
• Publisher: BioMed Central
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 441
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-018-2049-x
• Keywords: antenatal, pregnancy, wellbeing, self-efficacy, social support, technology use
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/857164
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-018-2049-x
• Related Public URLs: https://bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12884-018-2049-x
• Contract Date: Nov 15, 2018