Table 3 Mental health and lifestyle behaviour related factors associated with low social support during pregnancy among Australian women (n = 493)

Alcohol use

 Non-drinker

15 (38.5)

132 (29.1)

0.185

11 (45.8)

135 (28.9)

0.079

17 (32.6)

130 (29.6)

0.59

 Low/High risk drinker

23 (60)

320 (70.6)

13 (54.2)

330 (70.6)

34 (65.4)

308 (70.2)

Tobacco smoking

 Current smoker

2 (5.1)

20 (44.2)

0.836

1 (4.2)

21 (4.5)

0.930

4 (7.7)

18 (4.1)

0.236

 Non-smoker

37 (94.9)

433 (95.6)

23 (95.8)

446 (95.5)

48 (92.3)

421 (95.9)

Illicit drug use

 Yes

27 (69.2)

291 (64.2)

0.531

17 (70.8)

300 (64.2)

0.510

37 (71.2)

281 (64)

0.308

 No

12 (30.8)

162 (35.8)

7 (29.2)

167 (35.8)

15 (28.8)

158 (36)

Depressive symptoms (CES-D 10)

 < 10

7 (17.9)

358 (79)

 < 0.001

4 (16.7)

361 (77.3)

 < 0.001

24 (46.2)

341 (77.7)

 < 0.001

 ≥ 10

32 (82.1)

90 (21)

20 (83.3)

101 (21.7)

27 (51.2)

95 (21.6)

Depression in the past 3 years ( Previous Mental health)

 Yes

13 (33.3)

45 (10.1)

 < 0.001

5 (20.8)

53 (11.5)

0.172

13 (25)

45 (10.4)

0.002

 No

26 (66.7)

400 (89.9)

19 (71.2)

406 (88.5)

39 (75)

386 (89.6)

Anxiety symptoms (GAD)

 < 6

15 (38.5)

374 (82.6)

 < 0.001

5 (20.8)

384 (82.2)

 < 0.001

32 (61.5)

356 (81.1)

0.001

 ≥ 6

24 (61.5)

79 (17.4)

19 (79.2)

83 (17.8)

20 (38.5)

83 (18.9)

Anxiety in the past 3 years ( Previous Mental health)

 Yes

6 (15.4)

26 (5.8)

0.021

4 (16.7)

28 (6.1)

0.042

8 (15.4)

24 (5.6)

0.007

 No

33 (84.6)

419 (94.2)

20 (83.3)

431 (93.9)

44 (84.6)

407 (94.4)

Stress

 Not at all/somewhat stressed

22 (56.4)

396 (87.4)

 < 0.001

10 (41.7)

407 (87.2)

 < 0.001

37 (71.2)

380 (86.6)

0.002

 Moderately/very stressed

17 (43.6)

55 (12.1)

14 (58.3)

58 (12.8)

15 (28.8)

57 (13.4)