title: Childbirth related fears and psychological birth trauma in younger and older age adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to explore childbirth fears on psychological birth trauma (PBT) by adolescent age.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Among adults parity and intrapartum fears including fear of dying, loss of control, pain, and limited support have been associated with negative birth appraisal and symptoms of traumatic stress, defined here as PBT.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study surveyed a convenience sample of 201 adolescents at a large, county hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over 75% of adolescents perceived fear. Younger and older adolescents, similar in fears, were distinguished only by parity. The effects of parity, overall rating of fear, and father of baby absence were found to vary by age on birth appraisal; however, only parity varied by age on IES scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All age adolescents can be fearful and will benefit with childbirth education and labor support to help reduce fears and subsequent PBT.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, University of Texas at Arlington, College of Nursing, PO Box 19407, Arlington, Texas 76019. Electronic address: c.anderson@uta.edu.
authors.forename: Cheryl A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, University of Texas at Arlington, College of Nursing, PO Box 19407, Arlington, Texas 76019.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gill
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adolescents; Fear; Psychological birth trauma