Expectations predict early pregnancy-related symptom burden.

Meike Shedden-Mora, Verena Schymanski, Renja Albers, Belana Beth, Susan Garthus-Niegel, Alia J Crum, Lisa Autzen

Abstract read

In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it

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0citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Meike Shedden-MoraInstitute for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany. meike.shedden-mora@medicalschool-hamburg.de.ORCID 0000-0003-2023-3824

Verena SchymanskiInstitute for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.

Renja AlbersInstitute for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.

Belana BethInstitute for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.

Susan Garthus-NiegelInstitute for Systems Medicine (ISM), Faculty of Human Medicine, Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.

Alia J CrumDepartment of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, USA.

Lisa AutzenInstitute for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Early pregnancy is commonly accompanied by a wide range of symptoms, yet psychological determinants of pregnancy-related symptom burden remain poorly understood. Evidence from other medical contexts suggests that expectations may contribute to symptom burden. This prospective study examined whether first-trimester symptom expectations predict pregnancy-related symptom burden and disability at the beginning of the second trimester. In the PrExpect study, pregnant women up to the 10th gestational week completed online questionnaires assessing pregnancy-related symptoms, symptom expectations, psychological variables, and pregnancy characteristics, with follow-up at the beginning of the second trimester. Hierarchical regression models identified predictors of symptom burden and disability. Bidirectional temporal associations between symptoms and expectations were examined using a cross-lagged panel model. Exploratory analyses assessed pregnancy-related mindsets. A total of 347 women provided baseline data, and 227 completed follow-ups. Symptom burden was high and increased across the first trimester. Stronger baseline symptom expectations consistently predicted greater symptom burden and disability at follow-up. Cross-lagged analyses indicated bidirectional associations between expectations and symptoms over time. Several negative pregnancy-related mindsets were associated with higher symptom burden. These findings identify symptom expectations as a psychological correlate of early pregnancy-related symptom burden and disability, suggesting that symptom expectations may represent a promising target for future intervention studies to support well-being in early pregnancy.

Indexed as

Pregnancy ComplicationsPregnancy Trimester, FirstAdultFemaleHumansOutcome ExpectationsPregnancyPregnancy Trimester, SecondProspective StudiesSurveys and QuestionnairesSymptom BurdenEarly pregnancyPregnancy-related symptom burdenSymptom expectationsSymptom perception

Identifiers

PMID42303728

DOI10.1038/s41598-026-57961-w

PMCPMC13272805

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LicenceCC BY

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.