Objectives: The study aimed to compare anxiety, stress, sleep quality, occupational pattern and leisure satisfaction of pregnant women in different trimesters.
Methods: Pregnant women who came for routine check-ups (n = 156) were evaluated in clinics and family health centers. The pregnant women's anxiety, perceived stress levels, sleep quality, occupational pattern, occupational balance, and leisure time satisfaction were measured using the Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale (PASS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory (PSQI), Modified Activity Questionnaire (MOQ), Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ11-T), and Leisure Satisfaction Scale (LSS), respectively.
Results: The PASS and PSS total scores in the second and third trimesters were similar, yet higher than in the first trimester (F = 13.496, F = 39.401; p < 0.001, respectively). The PSQI and QBQ11-T total scores were highest in the first trimester and gradually decreased in the second and third trimesters (F = 25.029, F = 30.108; p < 0.001, respectively). The mean sports repetition was similar in the second and third trimesters and lower than in the first trimester (F = 14.087, p < 0.001). The LSS total scores were similar in the second and third trimesters and lower than in the first trimester (p < 0.05).
Conclusions for practice: The anxiety and perceived stress levels increased, and occupational balance and sleep quality deteriorated gradually throughout the trimesters. It may be important for the pregnancy curriculum for health professionals working with pregnant women to consider the impact of the changes on participation in daily life.
Keywords: Anxiety; Leisure time; Pregnancy; Sleep quality; Stress.
© 2026. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.