Literature Mapping of Anxiety Experiences among Third-Trimester Primigravida Pregnant Women: The Role of Husband Support and Social Media Exposure

Abstract

First-time pregnancy represents a major life transition involving biological, psychological, social, and emotional changes. During the third trimester, primigravida women are particularly susceptible to anxiety due to fear of childbirth, concerns about maternal and fetal health, labor pain, and uncertainty about their maternal role. Maternal anxiety is influenced not only by personal factors but also by external factors, especially husband support and social media exposure. Husband support provides essential emotional and social reinforcement, while social media can serve as both a valuable health information source and a contributor to psychological distress. Evidence on their combined influence remains limited. This scoping review aimed to map and synthesize the literature on anxiety among third-trimester primigravida women, focusing on the roles of husband support and social media exposure, while identifying research gaps. The review followed the Arksey and O'Malley framework, enhanced by Levac et al. and the Joanna Briggs Institute, and adhered to PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Literature searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, EBSCOhost, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Garuda. Studies published in English or Indonesian between 2020 and 2025 were screened using the PCC framework. Twenty eligible studies were included and analyzed through descriptive thematic synthesis. Anxiety was found to be influenced by psychological, social, and digital factors. Husband support consistently reduced anxiety by providing emotional, informational, instrumental, and appraisal support that enhanced coping and psychological readiness. Social media had a dual effect: it improved health literacy and peer support but also increased anxiety through misinformation and negative childbirth content. Husband support appeared to buffer the adverse psychological effects of social media. Anxiety in third-trimester primigravida women is shaped by the interaction between social support and digital information exposure. Strengthening husband involvement and improving digital health literacy should be prioritized to promote maternal psychological well-being during late pregnancy.