Abstract
The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between fear of childbirth (FOC) and psychological (PWB) and spiritual well-being (SWB) in pregnant women. Descriptive and relational study was conducted with 338 pregnant women in Turkey. Information form, Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire-A, Spiritual Well-Being Scale and Psychological Well-Being Scale were used for data collection. There was a negative correlation between SWB and PWB and FOC in pregnant women. SWB explained 18% of the variance related to FOC which increased to 24% with PWB. SWB was a partial mediating variable in PWB and FOC relationship. PWB and SWB of pregnant women should be evaluated in order to reduce FOC. PWB and SWB of pregnant women should be evaluated in order to reduce FOC.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abdollahpour, S., & Khosravi, A. (2018). Relationship between spiritual intelligence with happiness and fear of childbirth in Iranian Pregnant Women. Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research, 23(1), 45–50. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijnmr.IJNMR_39_16.
Adejuwon, G. A., Adekunle, I. F., & Ojeniran, M. (2018). Social support and personality traits as predictors of psychological wellbeing of postpartum nursing mothers in Oyo State, Nigeria. International Journal of Caring Sciences, 11(2), 704–718.
Akın, B., Yeşil, Y., Yücel, U., & Boyacı, B. (2018). Doğum öncesi eğitim sınıflarında verilen eğitimin gebelerin doğum korku düzeyi üzerine etkisi [Effects of pregnant women on birth level of birth of given prenatal education training class]. Life Sciences (NWSALS), 13(2), 11–20. (in Turkish).
Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986). The moderator–mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51(6), 1173–1182.
Bash, A. (2004). Spirituality: The emporer’s new colthes? Journal of Clinical Nursing, 13(1), 11–16. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2702.2003.00838.x.
Bilgin, N. Ç., Ak, B., Ayhan, F., Kocyigit, F., Yorgun, S., & Topcuoglu, M. A. (2020a). Effect of childbirth education on the perceptions of childbirth and breastfeeding self-efficacy and the obstetric outcomes of nulliparous women. Health Care for Women International, 41(2), 188–204. https://doi.org/10.1080/07399332.2019.1672171.
Bilgin, N. Ç., Coşkun, H., Potur, D. C., Aydın, Eİ., & Uca, E. (2020b). Psychosocial predictors of the fear of childbirth in Turkish pregnant women. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 2, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1080/0167482X.2020.1734791. (Epub ahead of print).
Bülbül, T., Özen, B., Çopur, A., & Kayacık, F. (2016). Gebelerin doğum korkusu ve doğum şekline karar verme durumlarının incelenmesi [Investigation the fear of labor and decision making about delivery type in pregnant]. Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, 25(3), 126–130. (in Turkish).
Callister, C. L., & Khalaf, I. (2010). Spirituality in childbearing women. The Journal of Perinatal Education, 19(2), 16–24. https://doi.org/10.1624/105812410X495514.
Callister, L. C., Semenic, S., & Foster, J. C. (1999). Cultural and spiritual meanings of childbirth. Orthodox Jewish and Mormon women. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 17(3), 280–295. https://doi.org/10.1177/089801019901700305.
Çetinkaya, B., Altundağ, S., & Azak, A. (2007). Spiritüel bakım ve hemşirelik [Spiritual care and nursing]. Turkish. ADÜ Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi, 8(1), 47–50. Retrieved March 21, 2020 from http://adudspace.adu.edu.tr:8080/jspui/bitstream/11607/2179/1/47-50.pdf.
Chaar, E. A., Hallit, S., Hajj, A., Aaraj, R., Kattans, J., Jabbours, H., et al. (2018). Evaluating the impact of spirituality on the quality of life, anxiety, and depression among patients with cancer: An observational transversal study. Supportive Care in Cancer, 26(8), 2581–2590. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-018-4089-1.
Como, J. M. (2007). Spiritual practice: A literatüre review related to spiritual health and health outcomes. Holistic Nursing Practice, 21(5), 224–236. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.HNP.0000287986.17344.02.
Coşkuner Potur, D., Mamuk, R., Şahin, N. H., Demirci, N., & Hamlacı, Y. (2017). Association between fear of childbirth and maternal acceptance of pregnancy. International Nursing Review, 64(4), 576–583. https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.12378.
Dehestani, H., Moshfeghy, Z., Ghodrati, F., & Akbarzadeh, M. (2019). The relationship of spiritual health and mother’s forgiveness with her anxiety in the labor of the pregnant women. International Journal of Women’s Health and Reproduction Sciences, 7(2), 174–179. https://doi.org/10.15296/ijwhr.2019.29.
Dencker, A., Nilsson, C., Begley, C., Jangsten, E., Mollberg, M., Patel, H., et al. (2019). Causes and outcomes in studies of fear of childbirth: A systematic review. Women and Birth, 32, 99–111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2018.07.004.
Desmawati, W. K., & Chatchawet, W. (2019). Effect of nursing intervention integrating an Islamic praying program on labor pain and pain behaviors in primiparous Muslim women. Iranian J Nursing Midwifery Research, 24(3), 220–226. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijnmr.IJNMR_36_18.
Diener, E., Wirtz, D., Biswas-Diener, R., Tov, W., Kim-Prieto, C., & Oishi, S. (2009). New measures of wellbeing. Social Indicators Research Series, 39, 247–266. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2354-412.
Dunn, L. L., Handley, M. C., & Shelton, M. M. (2007). Spiritual well-being, anxiety, and depression in antepartal women on bedrest. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 28(11), 1235–1246. https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840701651504.
Ekşi, H., & Kardaş, S. (2017). Spiritual well-being: Scale development and validation. Spiritual Psychology and Counseling, 2, 73–88. https://doi.org/10.12738/spc.2016.1.0005.
Fagbenro, D. A., Ehigie, O. B., & Folasade, A. O. (2018). Influence of stages of pregnancy on the psychological well-being of pregnant women in Ibadan, Nigeria. International Journal of Caring Sciences, 11(2), 719–724.
Fink, N., Urech, C., Cavelti, M., & Alder, J. (2012). Relaxation during pregnancy; What are the benefits for mother, fetus, and the newborn? A systematic review of the literature. The Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing, 26(4), 296–306. https://doi.org/10.1097/JPN.0b013e31823f565b.
Gao, L. L., Liu, X. J., Fu, B. L., & Xie, W. (2015). Predictors of childbirth fear among pregnant Chinese women: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey. Midwifery, 31(9), 865–870. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2015.05.003.
Gölbaşı, Z., Kelleci, M., Kısacık, G., & Çetin, A. (2010). Prevalence and correlates of depression in pregnancy among Turkish women. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 14(4), 485–491.
Greathouse, K. (2014). The “nightmare” of childbirth: The prevalence and predominant predictor variables for tokophobia in American women of childbearing age (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved November 3, 2019 from https://search.proquest.com/openview/8e5c122337dfe430e0afd172272a8a27/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y.
Güleç, D., Öztürk, R., Sevil, Ü., & Kazandı, M. (2014). Gebelerin yaşadıkları doğum korkusu ile algıladıkları sosyal destek arasındaki ilişki [The relationship between fear of birth and perceived social support of pregnant women]. Türkiye Klinikleri Jinekoloji Obstetrik, 24(1), 36–41. (in Turkish).
Hacettepe University Institute of Population Studies. (2018). Turkey Demographic and Health Survey (TDHS 2018). Retrieved March 18, 2020 from http://www.hips.hacettepe.edu.tr/eng/tdhs2018/TDHS_2018_MainReport.pdf.
Jabbari, B., Mirghafourvand, M., Sehhatie, F., & Mohammad Alizadeh-Charandabi, S. (2017). The effect of holly Quran voice with and without translation on stress, anxiety and depression during pregnancy: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Religion and Health. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-017-0417-x.
Karabulut, Ö., Coşkuner Potur, D., Doğan, M. Y., Cebeci, M. S., & Demirci, N. (2016). Does antenatal education reduce fear of childbirth? International Nursing Review, 63(1), 60–67. https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.12223.
Khodabakhshi Koolaee, A. (2013). Relationship between spiritual intelligence and resilience to stress in preference of delivery method in pregnant women. The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility, 16(58), 8–15.
Khorsandi, M., Ghofranipour, F., Hidarnia, A., Faghihzadeh, S., Vafaei, M., Rousta, F., et al. (2008). The effect of childbirth preparation classes on childbirth fear and normal delivery among primiparous women. Journal of Arak University of Medical Sciences, 11(3), 29–36.
King, D. B. (2008). Rethinking claims of spiritual intelligence: A definition, model, and measure (Masters’ thesis). Retrieved November 7, 2019 from https://docplayer.net/4796647-Rethinking-claims-of-spiritual-intelligence-a-definition-model-and-measure.html.
Körükçü, O., Deliktaş, A., Aydın, R., & Kabukcuoğlu, K. (2017). Investigation of the relationship between the psychosocial health status and fear of childbirth in healthy pregnancies. Clinical and Experimental Health Sciences, 7, 152–158. https://doi.org/10.5152/clinexphealthsci.2017.359.
Korukcu, O., Kukulu, K., & Firat, M. Z. (2012). The reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ) with pregnant women. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 19(3), 193–202. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2850.2011.01694.x.
Laursen, M., Hedegaard, M., & Johansen, C. (2008). Fear of childbirth: Predictors and temporal changes among nulliparous women in the Danish National Birth Cohort. BJOG, 115(3), 354–360. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0528.2007.01583.x.
Lukasse, M., Schei, B., & Ryding, E. L. (2014). Prevalence and associated factors of fear of childbirth in six European countries. Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare, 5(3), 99–106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.srhc.2014.06.007.
Markowska, U. S., Żur, A., Skrzypulec-Plinta, V., Machura, M., & Czajkowska, M. (2017). Causes and frequency of tocophobia—Own experiences. Ginekologia Polska, 88(5), 239–243. https://doi.org/10.5603/GP.a2017.0045.
Mazúchová, L., Škodová, Z., Kelčíková, S., & Rabárová, A. (2017). Factors associated with childbirth-related fear among slovak women. Central European Journal of Nursing and Midwifery, 8(4), 742–748. https://doi.org/10.5603/gp.A2017.0045.
Mortazavi, F., & Agah, J. (2018). Childbirth fear and associated factors in a sample of pregnant Iranian women. Oman Medical Journal, 33(6), 497–505. https://doi.org/10.5001/omj.2018.91.
Nilsson, C., Hessmen, E., Sjöblom, H., Dencker, A., Jangsten, E., Mollberg, M., et al. (2018). Definitions, measurements and prevalence of fear of childbirth: A systematic review. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 18(28), 2–15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-018-1659-7.
Phunyammalee, M., Buayaem, T., & Boriboonhirunsarn, D. (2019). Fear of childbirth and factors among low-risk pregnant women. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 39(6), 763–767. https://doi.org/10.1080/01443615.2019.1584885.
Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health, Public Health Agency of Turkey, Department of Women and Reproductive Health. (2014). Doğum öncesi bakım yönetim rehberi [Prenatal care management guide]. Turkish. Retrieved March 19, 2020 from https://sbu.saglik.gov.tr/Ekutuphane/kitaplar/dogumonubakim.pdf.
Rondung, E., Thomtén, J., & Sundin, Ö. (2016). Psychological perspectives on fear of childbirth. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 44, 80–91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2016.10.007.
Rosario, M. K., Premji, S. S., Nyanza, E. C., Bouchal, S. R., & Este, D. (2017). A qualitative study of pregnancy-related anxiety among women in Tanzania. British Medical Journal Open, 7(e016072), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-016072.
Rouhe, H., Salmela-Aro, K., Toivanen, R., Tokola, M., Halmesmaki, E., Ryding, E. L., et al. (2014). Group psychoeducation with relaxation for severe fear of childbirth improves maternal adjustment and childbirth experience—A randomised controlled trial. Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. https://doi.org/10.3109/0167482X.2014.980722.
Rowold, J. (2011). Effects of spiritual well-being on subsequent happiness, psychological well-being, and stress. Journal of Religion and Health, 50, 950–963. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-009-9316-0.
Safara, M., Khanbabaee, M., & Khanbabaee, M. (2019). Effectiveness of spiritual group counseling on the psychological well-being of girls from divorced families. Health, Spirituality and Medical Ethics, 6(1), 18–24.
Şahin, N., Dinç, H., & Dişsiz, M. (2009). Gebelerin doğuma ilişkin korkuları ve etkileyen faktörler [Pregnant women’s fear of chidbirth and related factors]. Turkish. Zeynep Kamil Tıp Bülteni, 40(2), 57–62.
Sanagoo, A., Kalantari, S., Jouybari, L., Hosseini, M., & Emadi, H. (2014). The experiences of pregnant women and mothers of hospitalized neonates in application of healing power of Quran to promote health in Golestan University of Medical Sciences. Religion Health, 2, 43–52.
Taghizdeh, Z., Ebadi, A., Dehghani, M., Gharacheh, M., & Yadollahi, P. (2017). A time for psycho-spiritual transcendence: The experiences of Iranian women of pain during childbirth. Women and Birth, 30(6), 491–496. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2017.04.010.
Telef, B. B. (2013). Psikolojik İyi Oluş Ölçeği (PİOO): Türkçeye uyarlama, geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalışması [The adaptation of psychological well-being into Turkish: A validity and reliability study]. Hacettepe Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 28(3), 374–384.
Toohill, J., Fenwick, J., Gamble, J., Creedy, D. K., Buist, A., & Ryding, E. L. (2014). Psycho-social predictors of childbirth fear in pregnant women: An Australian study. Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 4(9), 531–543. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojog.2014.49075.
Wijma, K., Wijma, B., & Zar, M. (1998). Psychosomatic aspects of W-DEQ: A new questionnaire for measurement of fear of childbirth. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetric Gynaecology, 19(4), 84–97. https://doi.org/10.3109/01674829809048501.
Zar, M., Wijma, K., & Wijma, B. (2001). Pre- and postpartum fear of childbirth in nulliparous and parous women. Scandinavian Journal of Behaviour Therapy, 30(2), 75–84.
Acknowledgements
We thank all the pregnant women participated in this study.
Funding
This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
G.B was involved in literature review, the design of the study, data collection, statistical analysis and writing of manuscript. N.Ç.B. was involved in the design of the study, statistical analysis and writing of manuscript. All authors approved the final version of the study for submission.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no financial or nonfinancial conflict of interest with any organization related to the contents of this paper.
Ethical Approval
This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors. All procedures performed in this study including data collection from the participants were in accordance with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.
Informed Consent
All the research participants were informed about the objectives and procedures of the study. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
The study has been produced from master theses.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bilgiç, G., Çıtak Bilgin, N. Relationship Between Fear of Childbirth and Psychological and Spiritual Well-Being in Pregnant Women. J Relig Health 60, 295–310 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-020-01087-4
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-020-01087-4