title: Active coping reduces reports of pain from childbirth.
abstract: Two studies were conducted in which pain and negative moods during labor were examined in relation to two key, independent variables: instructions to monitor labor contractions given to parturients on admission to the labor service and attendance at LaMaze (childbirth preparation) classes. In Study 1 (N = 48) pain and negative moods showed a sharp decline at Stage 2 (active labor) for women told to monitor and those who had attended classes; there was no decline for the control group. In Study 2 (N = 29), women attending LaMaze classes reported a similar decline in pain during active labor and were more energetic and less tired at admission. Of the three different mechanisms used to derive hypotheses, schema-directed coping provided the best account for the decline in pain and distress during active labor. A second mechanism, accurate expectations, seemed to account for the enhanced energy at the point of admission, in anticipation of birth.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Leventhal
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Leventhal
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shacham
authors.forename: D V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Easterling
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000523:psychology*; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011247:Pregnancy; D014590:Uterine Contraction