Investigation of the relationship between complaints in the last trimester of pregnancy and perinatal anxiety

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between complaints in the last trimester of pregnancy and perinatal anxiety. Material and Method: This research is descriptive and correlational in nature. The sample of the study consisted of 288 pregnant women in their third trimester who voluntarily agreed to participate and attended the maternity outpatient clinic of a hospital in Istanbul between November 28, 2023, and March 8, 2024. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Pregnancy-Related Symptoms Scale, and Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale. The data analysis involved independent samples t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation analysis. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was calculated to assess the internal consistency of the scales and their sub-dimensions, with statistical significance set at p< 0.05. Results: The average age of the pregnant women was 29.64 ± 5.13 years. Among them, 33.7% had received a high school education, 76.4% were housewives, 84% lived in nuclear families, 75.3% were unemployed, and 68.4% had a middle-income level. Additionally, 47.2% of the women did not have a supportive family member, 54.9% were between 28-36 weeks pregnant, and 86% had conceived intentionally. The average total score on the Pregnancy-Related Symptoms Scale was 31.05±13.04. Pregnant women in the third trimester had an average score of 23.31±15.13 on the Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale. According to the scale cutoff points, 59.4% of the participants were found to have anxiety. A statistically significant, positive, and low-level correlation was found between the total scores of the Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale and the subscales of Lifestyle-Impacting Symptoms and Musculoskeletal System-Related Symptoms, as well as the total score of the Pregnancy-Related Symptoms Scale (p<0.05). As the scores on the Lifestyle-Impacting Symptoms and Musculoskeletal System-Related Symptoms subscales, as well as the total score on the Pregnancy-Related Symptoms Scale, increased, the total score on the Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale also increased. Conclusions: The study observed that as pregnancy-related symptoms increased among pregnant women, their perinatal anxiety also increased. Specifically, higher scores in the subscales of Lifestyle-Impacting Symptoms and Musculoskeletal System-Related Symptoms, as well as higher total scores on the Pregnancy-Related Symptoms Scale, were associated with increased total scores on the Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale. Keywords: Pregnancy, pregnancy complaints, nursing, perinatal, perinatal anxiety, last trimester.