ObjectiveTo investigate the anxiety state of pregnant women in a community in Shanghai and its correlation with TCM constitution, providing evidence for prevention and treatment of anxiety of pregnant women.

MethodsThe anxiety and constitution classification of the 381 pregnant women in the community were determined by self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and 9 basic constitution classification scales of TCM, on the basis of which the relationship between anxiety state and TCM constitution was analyzed.

ResultsOf the 381 pregnant women investigated, 91 (23.89%) were anxious.Among them, 78 (27.56%) were special constitution, 89 (26.57%) Qi-depressed, 86 (26.06%) phlegm-dampness, 82 (26.03%) damp-heat, 290 (76.11%) non-anxious and 21 (100.00%) calm.And 275 cases (75.34%), 264 cases (75.21%) and 244 cases (74.16%) were of Qi deficiency, Ying deficiency, and Yang deficiency, respectively.Univariate analysis showed that anxiety was significantly correlated with peace, Yang deficiency, blood stasis, Qi depression, special endowment and damp-heat constitution as well as educational background (P < 0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that calm constitution, Qiyu constitution, special constitution, and educational background were closely related to anxiety of pregnant women.

ConclusionThere is a significant correlation between anxiety state of pregnant women in community and the constitution of traditional Chinese medicine and education level.The lower the education level, the more likely the pregnant women with Qi depression and special constitution are to have anxiety.