Mediating role of worry in the relationship between anxiety symptoms during pregnancy and sleep problems in pregnant women

Asadi, Fatemeh; Zemestani, Mehdi; Eyni, Sanaz

doi:10.22059/japr.2025.374842.644901

Mediating role of worry in the relationship between anxiety symptoms during pregnancy and sleep problems in pregnant women

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Fatemeh Asadi ¹

Mehdi Zemestani ²

Sanaz Eyni ³

¹ Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran.

² Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran.

³ Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran

10.22059/japr.2025.374842.644901

Abstract

The aim of present study was to explain the mediating role of worry in the relationship between pregnancy-related anxiety symptoms and sleep problems in pregnant women. The statistical population included all pregnant women referring to medical centers in Isfahan city in 2023, from which a sample of 366 people was selected using the convenience sampling method. Research tools included Beck Anxiety Scale (BAI), Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire (PRAQ), Pittsburg Sleep Quality Questionnaire (PSQI) and Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ). Data were analyzed by Pearson correlation and structural equation model using SPSS-27 and Amos-29. The findings showed that pregnancy anxiety has a positive and significant relationship with the severity of sleep problems in pregnant women. The direct effects of pregnancy anxiety on sleep problems in pregnant women were significant. The results of bootstrap and indirect coefficients also indicated that worry can play a significant mediating role between pregnancy anxiety symptoms and sleep problems. In order to improve the sleep quality of pregnant women it is suggested to use the training of emotion regulation techniques in order to control anxiety, worry and other negative emotional states in them.

Keywords

Anxiety

Pregnancy-related anxiety

Mother and infant health

Sleep problems and Worry