Antenatal fear of childbirth and sense of coherence among healthy pregnant women in Japan: a cross-sectional study.
While antenatal fear of childbirth (FOC) has been associated with many psychosocial variables, few studies have focused on individual stress resiliency. Sense of coherence (SOC) is one of the essential components of individual stress resiliency. This study investigates the relationship between antenatal FOC and SOC in Japanese healthy pregnant women. Self-reported questionnaires were distributed to 240 women at 37 gestational weeks at an obstetric clinic in Tokyo, Japan. Structural regression modeling was conducted to identify the causal relationships between FOC and SOC. The non-recursive model showed significant acceptance of fit (chi-square value/degree of freedom = 1.72, comparative fit index = 0.97, and root mean square error of approximation = 0.05). The model identified SOC as a direct cause of FOC (β = -0.89, p < 0.001), not a reflection of FOC. We found that SOC was negatively linked with antenatal fear of childbirth. High SOC works as a resiliency factor that helps pregnant women cope with the stress of their upcoming childbirth and reduces FOC.
Department of Midwifery and Women's Health, Division of Health Sciences & Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.
Mizuki
M
Takegata
Megumi
M
Haruna
Masayo
M
Matsuzaki
Mie
M
Shiraishi
Tadaharu
T
Okano
Elisabeth
E
Severinsson
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000523:psychology*; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D016015:Logistic Models; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D036801:Parturition / Q000523:psychology*; D018743:Perinatal Care; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D060685:Sense of Coherence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires