BACKGROUND:
Loneliness among pregnant women is a growing public health concern exacerbated by changes in family structure and limited access to reliable information. Although acquiring information and perceiving social support may help mitigate loneliness, their roles remain understudied.

OBJECTIVES:
To examine associations between information acquisition, social support, and loneliness among pregnant women and identify implications for maternal support strategies.

METHODS:
A cross-sectional anonymous online survey was conducted in February 2025 among 499 pregnant women (≥20 weeks gestation) in Japan. Collected data included sociodemographic characteristics, sources of pregnancy-related information, preferred format of antenatal education, perceived social support (SSQ6), and loneliness (UCLA LS3-10). Multiple regression analysis identified factors associated with loneliness (p < 0.05).

RESULTS:
Most information was obtained from partners (77.2%), mothers (54.5%), and friends (45.7%); 4.8% of respondents reported no information source. Face-to-face education was the preferred method (64.9%) for antenatal education, while 25.5% indicated no need for it. The latter group had fewer information sources, lower social support in quantity and satisfaction, and significantly higher loneliness scores (p < 0.05). However, “no need for antenatal education” was not a significant predictor of loneliness in the regression analysis (p = 0.183). Higher education (β = -0.112, p = 0.005), greater information acquisition (β = -0.125, p = 0.003), larger support networks (β = -0.199, p < 0.001), and higher support satisfaction (β = -0.329, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with lower loneliness.

CONCLUSIONS:
Quantity and quality of support and information were inversely associated with loneliness. Women who are unaware of their support needs despite their declining education may represent a hidden at-risk group. Partner support plays a critical role. Tailored outreach and reliable information provision are vital.

KEY MESSAGE:
Strengthening partner-inclusive support and ensuring access to reliable information can help reduce loneliness among women unaware of their support needs. Poster session 1 (Group A)