ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Glob. Women’s Health
Sec. Maternal Health
Volume 6 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fgwh.2025.1573789
This article is part of the Research TopicTherapeutic Interventions in Pregnancy to Promote Maternal and Child HealthView all 5 articles
Stress, Resilience, and Social Support Among Antenatal Women in Jordan During Novel Coronavirus Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study
Provisionally accepted
Sawsan Abuhammad1*
Shaher Hamaideh2Hossam Alhawatmeh1Zelal Kharaba3Karem H Alzoubi3Heba Hijazi1Nabeel Al Yateem3Vidya Seshan3Muna altamimi3- 1Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
- 2Hashemite University, Zarqa, Zarqa, Jordan
- 3University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
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Background and Aim: The novel coronavirus pandemic has notably affected the psychological health of antenatal women, heightening their vulnerability to stress and raising questions about the impact of vaccination and fetal health outcomes. This study aims to examine the relationship between stress, resilience, and social support among antenatal women in Jordan during the novel coronavirus pandemic. Methodology: Using a cross-sectional approach, 434 antenatal women were surveyed in November 2021. Participants were recruited through digital platforms, including social media (Facebook and Instagram). Eligibility required being at least 18 years old, pregnant, living in Jordan, and proficient in English. Results: The mean perceived stress score among participants was 24.3 ± 4.4, with nearly half (49.3%) experiencing difficulty focusing, 48.9% finding daily tasks stressful, and 45.9% having trouble falling asleep. The mean social support score was 39.3 ± 9.1; the highest-rated support item was having someone available to drive them to a doctor. Pearson correlation revealed a significant positive association between resilience and social support (r = 0.565, p < 0.01). Regression analysis identified later trimester, lack of insurance, and negative life changes during the pandemic as significant predictors of higher stress among pregnant women. These findings highlight that antenatal women in Jordan experienced considerable stress and moderate social support during the pandemic, and that social support is linked to higher resilience Conclusion: Antenatal women have experienced persistently high levels of anxiety and stress throughout the novel coronavirus pandemic. The mental health impacts are closely related to pandemic-driven factors, such as isolation, interpersonal difficulties, and financial strain. Addressing these psychological outcomes and associated risk factors is essential before they
Keywords: Antenatal period, social support, stress, resilience, Novel Coronavirus Pandemic
Received: 09 Feb 2025; Accepted: 24 Sep 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Abuhammad, Hamaideh, Alhawatmeh, Kharaba, Alzoubi, Hijazi, Al Yateem, Seshan and altamimi. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Sawsan Abuhammad, shabuhammad@just.edu.jo
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