Background: Prenatal anxiety is a common problem affecting a large number of women. The presence of anxiety during pregnancy is associated with adverse consequences for both the mother and the baby. The main objective of this review was to determine the risk factors associated with anxiety during pregnancy in European women. Specifically, we wanted to know if these factors are the same as those found in other continents and if they are similar to those associated with depression during this stage. Methods: A literature review was carried out on studies that were published in the last 10 years in the PsycInfo, Medline, and SCOPUS databases. Thirteen studies were selected for the purposes of this review. Results: Sociodemographic risk factors associated with a higher level of anxiety during pregnancy included having a lower educational level and socioeconomic status. Obstetric and pregnancy-related risk factors included having had complications during pregnancy. Having a history of mental health problems, low social support, high levels of stress, and being exposed to adverse life events were the most relevant psychological factors for presenting prenatal anxiety. Furthermore, these factors are largely common to those associated with prenatal anxiety in other continents of the world and to those associated with prenatal depression. Conclusions: This review shows that there are multiple factors that contribute to women experiencing prenatal anxiety. Most can be identified at the beginning of pregnancy, and some factors, such as psychological ones, are potentially modifiable. This underlines the importance of carrying out a proper screening for anxiety during pregnancy in order to prevent its onset or treat it appropriately. Furthermore, the fact that risk factors are common for both prenatal anxiety and depression implies that the same intervention could reduce the probability of the onset of both pathologies and the possible consequences associated with them.

Introduction. In women, smoking during pregnancy and the postpartum period has important consequences for maternal and infant health, and interventions to assist smoking cessation during this period are essential. Although smoking has been associated with the presence of mental health problems, few studies addressing the factors associated with perinatal smoking have examined the role of stress. The aim of this review was to identify the relationships between the presence of stress and smoking during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Method. A literature search of the PsycInfo, Pubmed and Web of Science databases was carried out to identify relevant articles published between January 2013 and June 2024. A total of 15 studies that met the inclusion criteria were selected for review. Results. Twelve of the studies analysed the relationship between stress and smoking during pregnancy, two studies involved the postpartum period, and one study included both periods. Diverse instruments were used to assess stress, although the PSS-14 was the most commonly used. Eleven of the studies found a relationship between stress and smoking in the perinatal period, with stress being a predictor of smoking. Conclusions. The findings highlight the need to consider stress management when developing effective interventions to help women quit smoking during pregnancy and maintain abstinence in the postpartum period.

Background: This review focuses on analyzing the relationship between social support and women’s smoking during the perinatal period. Method: A literature search was conducted in PsycINFO, Medline, and SCOPUS covering the period between January 2010 and August 2024. Fifteen studies meeting the inclusion criteria were selected. Results: A total of 10 studies examined the relationships between social support and smoking during the perinatal period and 5 studies examined the influence of partner smoking during this period. Lack of social and partner support, an environment of smoking friends, and not having a partner were associated with continued smoking during pregnancy. Having a smoking partner was also associated with continued smoking during pregnancy or relapse postpartum. Conclusions: The absence of social support and having a partner who smokes were found to be related to women’s tobacco consumption during the perinatal period. Introducción:, Esta revisión se centra en el análisis de la relación entre el apoyo social y el consumo de tabaco por parte de las mujeres durante el periodo perinatal. ,Método:, Se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica en PsycINFO, Medline y SCOPUS desde enero de 2010 a agosto de 2024. Se seleccionaron 15 estudios que cumplían los criterios de inclusión. ,Resultados:, Un total de 10 estudios examinaban las relaciones entre el apoyo social y el tabaquismo durante el periodo perinatal y 5 la influencia del tabaquismo de la pareja durante este periodo. La falta de apoyo social y de la pareja, un entorno de amigos fumadores y no tener pareja se asociaban con seguir fumando durante el embarazo. Tener una pareja fumadora también se asociaba con seguir fumando durante el embarazo o recaer después del parto. ,Conclusiones:, Se observó que la ausencia de apoyo social y tener pareja fumadora se relacionaban con el consumo de tabaco de la mujer durante la etapa perinatal.

Introduction: Anxiety is a common problem during pregnancy and postpartum that can have important consequences for mothers and their babies. Having preventive psychological interventions to apply during the perinatal stage could help to reduce its adverse effects. The aim of this study was to find out which psychological interventions have been applied for the prevention of perinatal anxiety, what therapeutic approach and application format have been most commonly used, and which interventions have proven to be most effective. Methods: A literature review was conducted in the PsycInfo, Medline, and SCOPUS databases to identify articles published between March 2015 and March 2025. Results: Twenty studies were selected that met the inclusion criteria. Twelve of the interventions analyzed were indicated prevention programs and eight were universal prevention programs, with most taking place in pregnancy (n = 18). Mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy were the most commonly employed approaches. Regarding the application format, interventions conducted face-to-face and online were equally frequent, as well as those carried out individually or in groups. The duration ranged from 4 to 14 sessions. Cognitive behavioral therapy interventions, applied face-to-face and in groups, proved to be the most effective. Conclusions: Preventive psychological interventions are effective in reducing anxiety during pregnancy. Further research is needed to draw conclusive results on their long-term effects and efficacy in the postpartum period.