engleski

Perfectionism and intolerance of uncertainty as predictors of fear of childbirth

Fear of childbirth can have an adverse effect on pregnant women, the course of pregnancy, and the childbirth. Better preparedness for childbirth and some personality traits contribute to a lower level of fear of childbirth. In previous studies perfectionism was shown as a significant determinant of fear of childbirth, however, the role of intolerance of uncertainty has not been investigated so far. The objective of this study was to examine the role of preparedness for childbirth, strategies of coping with stress, perfectionism (positive and negative) and intolerance of uncertainty for fear of childbirth in primiparous and multiparous women. Pregnant women participated in the study (N=292 ; 57 % primiparous and 43 % multiparous women at the 33 weeks of gestation on average) at the prenatal clinic in a university hospital centre in Zagreb. The participants filled out questionnaires Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ A ; Wijma et al.., 1998), Positive and Negative Perfectionism Scale (PNPS ; Terry-Short et al., 1995), Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS ; Freeston et al., 1994), Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE-15 ; Carver et al., 1989) and Demographic and Obstetric Sheet. In primiparous women, higher negative perfectionism and lower positive perfectionism predicted a higher level of fear of childbirth. In multiparous women, an emergency caesarean section in previous childbirths, higher education of women, and lower education of partner predicted a higher level of fear of childbirth. In both groups, lower level of preparedness for childbirth predicted higher fear of childbirth. Other predictors were not significant, including coping strategies and intolerance of uncertainty. In conclusion, more important determinants of fear of childbirth in primiparous women are personality traits (perfectionism), while more important determinant in multiparous women is the previous experience. However, preparedness for childbirth is a significant predictor in both groups. These findings suggest that creating quality pregnancy courses are necessary aimed at better psychological preparedness for

fear of childbirth ; preparedness for childbirth ; stress ; perfectionism ; intolerance of uncertainty

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