Abstract
Introduction: Lifestyle during pregnancy has long-lasting effects on the health of the mother and child. The health locus of control (HLC) predicts health behaviors, while higher levels of mental health literacy (MHL) facilitate early recognition, being associated with greater well-being and probably influencing pregnant women’s quality of life. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between MHL, HLC, and lifestyle in pregnant women in Gonabad, Iran, from 2024 to 2025.
Methods: This cross-sectional study included 220 pregnant women visiting urban and rural health centers in Gonabad. Demographics, MHL, HLC, and lifestyle were assessed via questionnaires. Pearson correlation, ANOVA, and t-test were used, and data were analyzed in R 4.5.0.
Results: Participants’ mean age was 29.83±6.39 years, and most mothers had a planned pregnancy. The powerful other subscale of HLC was positively associated with physical activity (P=0.010) but negatively related to eating habits (P=0.050). A negative relationship existed between the chance of HLC and substance use (P=0.033). Age significantly affected the relationship between MHL and lifestyle, being negative in mothers under 24 but positive in those over 24 (P=0.010). The analysis of demographic variables revealed that MHL was positively associated with overall lifestyle at all income levels (P=0.010).
Conclusion: MHL was positively related to HLC and lifestyle in pregnant mothers. Thus, these factors play a significant role in shaping lifestyle, and the strength of their relationship may vary based on demographic variables, highlighting the importance of interactively addressing such factors while considering social and demographic characteristics.