Investigation of the relationship between the level of perceived social support and healthy lifestylebehaviors of pregnant women

Özet

Objectives: This study was performed to determine the effects of perceived social support on the healthy lifestyle behaviors of pregnant women.Methods: This descriptive study was conducted in a gestational outpatient clinic and a non-stress test room at a state hospital in Istanbul. The study sample included 329 literate pregnant women who did not suffer from any psychosocial issues or have any pregnancy related risks. The data were collected in face to face interviews using a Risk Assessment Form of the Turkish Ministry of Health, the Pregnant Women Identification Form, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile II. Statistical analyses of obtained data were analyzed with the descriptive statistics numbers, percentages and mean and correlation tests.Results: In the study, 69% of the pregnant women were over 25 years of age, 65.7% had been married for 4 years or more, 56.6% were high school graduates or had a higher level of education, 75.4% had health insurance and 87.5% were un-employed. The mean score for the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support was 53.86±20.21 and the highest score of 23.06±5.75 was for the familial support subscale. The mean score for the Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile II was 124.44±24.87. The highest score of 25.11±4.63 was on the spiritual growth subscale and the lowest score of 13.08±4.57 on the physical activity subscale. The scores for the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and its subscales had a significant positive relation with the scores for Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile II and its subscales (p<0.05).Conclusion: According to these results, a positive relationship was found between social support and healthy lifestyle behaviors of pregnant women. It can be said that the environment with physicians, nurses, families and friends is effec-tive in developing positive health behaviors. Within the scope of education and consultancy services of nurses; forming this positive relationship is recommended in order for pregnant women to benefit from social support in helping to develop healthy lifestyle behaviors and to conduct intervention studies on the subject.