Reduced Readiness for Social Interaction as a Strategy for Pathogen Avoidance by Women in Various Stages of Pregnancy and Postpartum

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dc.abstract.enThe Behavioral Immune System (BIS) drives disgust-based avoidance, but its response to immunological changes during pregnancy is understudied. The Compensatory Prophylaxis Hypothesis (CPH) predicts heightened disease-avoidant social behavior in early pregnancy due to immunosuppression. We examined whether first-trimester women show reduced willingness to engage with outgroup members or individuals displaying infection signs compared to later pregnancy stages and postpartum. We also assessed moderation by perceived vulnerability to disease (PVD) and perceived COVID-19 threat. Data were collected in Poland during the COVID-19 pandemic via online surveys in two studies. In the cross-sectional Study 1 (N = 425, age 18–46, M = 29.64, SD = 5.37), pregnant participants at different stages of pregnancy assessed their willingness to engage in social contact with individuals displaying or not displaying infection cues shown in photographs, and then completed measures of PVD and Perceived Threat of COVID-19. The longitudinal Study 2 (N = 112, age 22–41, M = 30.14, SD = 4.05) employed the same procedure, administered four times—during the first, second, and third trimesters, and postpartum. Findings did not support CPH. Social avoidance was unrelated to the pregnancy stage but significantly associated with PVD and COVID-19 threat. Results underscore the situational and individual flexibility of BIS responses.
dc.affiliationInstytut Psychologii
dc.affiliationCentrum Badań nad Biologicznymi Podstawami Funkcjonowania Społecznego
dc.affiliationWydział Psychologii w Sopocie
dc.contributor.authorFrankowska, Natalia
dc.contributor.authorTołopiło, Aleksandra
dc.contributor.authorOlszanowski, Michał
dc.contributor.authorKaňková, Šárka
dc.contributor.authorKuczmarski, Mikołaj
dc.contributor.authorSzymków-Sudziarska, Aleksandra
dc.date.access2026-02-26
dc.date.accessioned2026-05-25T09:00:28Z
dc.date.available2026-05-25T09:00:28Z
dc.date.created2025-12-13
dc.date.issued2026-02-26
dc.description.abstract<jats:p> The Behavioral Immune System (BIS) drives disgust-based avoidance, but its response to immunological changes during pregnancy is understudied. The Compensatory Prophylaxis Hypothesis (CPH) predicts heightened disease-avoidant social behavior in early pregnancy due to immunosuppression. We examined whether first-trimester women show reduced willingness to engage with outgroup members or individuals displaying infection signs compared to later pregnancy stages and postpartum. We also assessed moderation by perceived vulnerability to disease (PVD) and perceived COVID-19 threat. Data were collected in Poland during the COVID-19 pandemic via online surveys in two studies. In the cross-sectional Study 1 ( <jats:italic toggle="yes">N</jats:italic>  = 425, age 18–46, <jats:italic toggle="yes">M</jats:italic>  = 29.64, <jats:italic toggle="yes">SD</jats:italic>  = 5.37), pregnant participants at different stages of pregnancy assessed their willingness to engage in social contact with individuals displaying or not displaying infection cues shown in photographs, and then completed measures of PVD and Perceived Threat of COVID-19. The longitudinal Study 2 ( <jats:italic toggle="yes">N</jats:italic>  = 112, age 22–41, <jats:italic toggle="yes">M</jats:italic>  = 30.14, <jats:italic toggle="yes">SD</jats:italic>  = 4.05) employed the same procedure, administered four times—during the first, second, and third trimesters, and postpartum. Findings did not support CPH. Social avoidance was unrelated to the pregnancy stage but significantly associated with PVD and COVID-19 threat. Results underscore the situational and individual flexibility of BIS responses. </jats:p>
dc.description.accesstimeat_publication
dc.description.grantnumberRID20/2020
dc.description.issue1
dc.description.physical1-17
dc.description.sdgGoodHealthAndWellBeing
dc.description.versionfinal_published
dc.description.volume24
dc.identifier.doi10.1177/14747049251411481
dc.identifier.issn1474-7049
dc.identifier.urihttps://share.swps.edu.pl/handle/swps/2358
dc.identifier.weblinkhttps://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/14747049251411481
dc.languageen
dc.pbn.affiliationpsychologia
dc.rightsCC-BY-NC
dc.rights.questionYes_rights
dc.share.articleOPEN_JOURNAL
dc.subject.enbehavioral immune system
dc.subject.encompensatory prophylaxis hypothesis
dc.subject.enperceived vulnerability to disease
dc.subject.enCOVID-19 threat
dc.subject.ensocial contact
dc.swps.sciencecloudsend
dc.titleReduced Readiness for Social Interaction as a Strategy for Pathogen Avoidance by Women in Various Stages of Pregnancy and Postpartum
dc.title.journalEvolutionary Psychology
dc.typeJournalArticle
dspace.entity.typeArticle