title: Stressful events and support during birth: the effect on anxiety, mood and perceived control.
abstract: Following childbirth, 16% of women may have anxiety disorders and 2% develop PTSD. It is important to identify factors that influence women's emotional reactions to birth. This study investigated how stressful events and support from hospital staff during birth each affects women's anxiety and perceived control.
  
  
  METHODS
  A between-subjects experimental design used birth stories to manipulate levels of stressful events (high/low) and support (high/low) during birth. Participants (n=137) imagined undergoing one of the birth experiences and rated their perceived control, mood, and anxiety.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Manipulation checks indicated the birth stories reliably elicited mood responses. Anxiety, mood, and perceived control were more strongly influenced by support than by stressful events. There was a significant interaction between stressful events and support for perceived control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Level of support from hospital staff during birth has a greater effect on women's emotional reactions than stressful events. Supportive care during birth increases perceived control and reduces anxiety and negative mood.
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK. E.Ford@sussex.ac.uk
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ayers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D036801:Parturition / Q000502:physiology*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support