Exploring the relationship between perceived social support and pregnant women’s physical activity behavior: a chain-mediated effect test

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to explore the impact of perceived social support on pregnant women’s physical activity behaviors, as well as the mediating effects of physical activity health beliefs and exercise self-efficacy. Methods: We selected 283 pregnant women from a hospital in Kunming City from March 2025 to June 2025 using the convenient sampling method. Various scales and questionnaires assess pregnant women’s social support for physical activity, physical activity, health beliefs in physical activity, and exercise self-efficacy. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS and the bootstrap method to test the chain mediating effect. Results: (1)Perceived social support can predict physical activity, health beliefs in physical activity, and exercise self-efficacy. Health beliefs in physical activity can predict exercise self-efficacy. Similarly, perceived social support, health beliefs in physical activity, and exercise self-efficacy can positively predict autonomous fitness behavior. (2)The indirect effect of the path with health beliefs in physical activity as the mediating variable is 0.411. The indirect effect of the path with exercise self-efficacy as the mediating variable is 0.352. The indirect effect of the path with health beliefs in physical activity and exercise self-efficacy as mediating variables is 0.383. (3)The sum of all indirect effects is 1.146, and the effects of the three indirect pathways account for 35.8%, 30.7%, and 33.4% of the total respectively. Conclusion: Perceived social support predicts pregnant women’s physical activity behavior through both the independent mediating effects of physical activity health beliefs and self-efficacy, as well as their sequential chain mediation effect. The research delineates the association patterns and mechanistic pathways, advancing the evidence base regarding the impact of perceived social support on gestational physical activity behaviors. It provides actionable insights for healthcare administrators to optimize prenatal physical activity support systems.