Cited by 399Maternal and Perinatal Health InterventionsMaternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and PostpartumMaternal and Neonatal Healthcare

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 28 of the 28 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Experiences of Fears Associated with Pregnancy and Childbirth: A Study of 329 Pregnant Women

Hanna‐Leena Melender, RM·2002·Birth

DOI 10.1046/j.1523-536x.2002.00170.x

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Abstract

Background: Women may experience a variety of fears in association with pregnancy and childbirth. The purpose of this study was to describe their objects, causes, and manifestations, and to identify factors associated with the fears. Methods: The study sample comprised 481 pregnant women in western Finland, of whom 329 (response rate 69%) completed a questionnaire. It was developed on the basis of semi‐structured interviews and previous studies and had a 4‐point scale and a dichotomous scale. Data were subjected to rotated factor analysis, and sum variables were produced. The effects of various demographic variables were calculated using the Kruskal‐Wallis and Mann‐Whitney U tests. Results: Of the 329 respondents, 78 percent expressed fears relating to pregnancy, to childbirth, or to both. Specific fears concerned childbirth, the child's and mother's well‐being, health care staff, family life, and cesarean section. Causes of fears were negative mood, negative stories told by others, alarming information, diseases and child‐related problems, and, in multiparas, negative experiences of previous pregnancy, childbirth, and baby's health and care; causes were significantly related to occupation. Fears were manifested as symptoms of stress, effects on everyday life, and a wish to have a cesarean section or to avoid pregnancy and childbirth; employment situation and elective cesarean section were the most important factors related to manifestation of fears. Parity and antenatal training were the most important variables related to objects of fears. Conclusions: Women's fears that are associated with pregnancy and childbirth can be explained by different factors. It is important for perinatal health caregivers to ask pregnant women about their feelings related to the current pregnancy, childbirth, and future motherhood, and to give women who express fears an opportunity to discuss them, paying special attention to primiparas and to multiparas with negative experiences of earlier pregnancies. (BIRTH 29:2 June 2002)

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“…-‐ low level of education; -‐ low socio-economic level; -‐ dissatisfaction of the partner with his life and with the relationship with his partner; -‐ Melender (2002) also added that unemployed women who do not live with the father of their baby are more likely to feel greater anxiety about…”
Background
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BackgroundResult
Childhood abuse and later worries about the baby's health in pregnancy
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“Moreover, as highlighted by Melender (2002), women can face different fears associated with the experience of pregnancy and childbirth, such as pain of childbirth, child’s and mother’s well-being, healthcare staff, family life, motherhood, vaginal delivery and caesarean section.”
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“Childbirth fear, which occurs in many pregnant women and is more prevalent in first-time mothers [20, 22], seems to be one such birth-obstructive emotion.”
Background
“Real decision-making is hard to find” - Swiss perinatal care providers’ perceptions of and attitudes towards decision-making in birth: A qualitative study
Rost, M., Stuerner, Z., Niles, P. M., & Arnold, L. S. (2022) · SSM - Qualitative Research in Health · doi:10.1016/j.ssmqr.2022.100077 · Cited by 20
“For patients, hindering factors include a high degree of risk-avoidance, lack of appropriate in-depth birth knowledge, or fear of birth (Dhumale & Goudar, 2017; Hildingsson, 2014; Ledward, 2017; Melender, 2002).”
Background
Assessing fear of childbirth and its predictors among Hungarian pregnant women using Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire subscales
MoghaddamHosseini, V., Makai, A., Varga, K., Ács, P., Prémusz, V., & Várnagy, Á. (2019) · Psychology, Health & Medicine · doi:10.1080/13548506.2019.1572904 · Cited by 19
“…Akaberi, & HashemiAsl, 2017; Lukasse et al., 2010; Martini, Asselmann, Einsle, Strehle, &Wittchen, 2016), social background factors (HannaLeena Melender, 2002; Laursen, Hedegaard, & Johansen, 2008; Matinnia et al., 2016), and also obstetric history (Nieminen, Stephansson, & Ryding, 2009;…”
Fear from Childbirth among Pregnant Women
Abdelhalim, E. H. N., Alshehri, N., Almutairi, M. A. M., & Sayed, F. M. A. (2020) · OALib · doi:10.4236/oalib.1106427 · Cited by 19
Childbirth related fears and psychological birth trauma in younger and older age adolescents
Anderson, C. A., & Gill, M. (2014) · Applied Nursing Research · doi:10.1016/j.apnr.2014.02.008 · Cited by 19
Women's use of complementary and alternative medicine in pregnancy: Narratives of transformation
Mitchell, D. M. (2015) · Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice · doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2015.05.006 · Cited by 18
Causes and frequency of tocophobia — own experiences
Sioma-Markowska, U., Żur, A., Skrzypulec‐Plinta, V., Machura, M., & Czajkowska, M. (2017) · Ginekologia Polska · doi:10.5603/gp.a2017.0045 · Cited by 18
Validation of the Slade Fear of Childbirth Scale for Pregnancy in a Sample of Iranian Women: A Crosssectional Study
Sanjari, S., Fakhraei, A. A., Soleimani, M. R. M., & Alidousti, K. (2022) · Crescent Journal of Medical and Biological Sciences · doi:10.34172/cjmb.2022.24 · Cited by 18
Personality disorder, psychiatric symptoms and experience of childbirth among childbearing women in Sweden
Börjesson, K., Ruppert, S., Wager, J., & Bågedahl-Strindlund, M. (2006) · Midwifery · doi:10.1016/j.midw.2006.03.013 · Cited by 18
Cross-cultural invariance of the Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised (BSS-R): comparing UK and US samples
Burduli, E., Barbosa‐Leiker, C., Fleming, S., Martin, C. J. H., & Martin, C. R. (2017) · Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology · doi:10.1080/02646838.2017.1310374 · Cited by 18
Informing about childbirth without increasing anxiety: a qualitative study of first-time pregnant women and partners’ perceptions and needs
Diezi, A.-S., Vanetti, M., Robert, M., Schaad, B., Baud, D., & Horsch, A. (2023) · BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth · doi:10.1186/s12884-023-06105-3 · Cited by 18
A comprehensive systematic review of the impact of planned interventions offered to pregnant women who have requested a caesarean section as a result of tokophobia (fear of childbirth).
Weaver, J. J., Browne, J., Aras-Payne, A., & Magill‐Cuerden, J. (2012) · JBI Library of Systematic Reviews · doi:10.11124/jbisrir-2012-322 · Cited by 17
Difference in Perception of Pregnancy Risk in Two Maternal Age Groups
Taghizadeh, Z. (2017) · JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND DIAGNOSTIC RESEARCH · doi:10.7860/jcdr/2017/23661.9915 · Cited by 17
A Quasi-Experimental Study to Assess Hypnobirthing Educational Intervention on Labor Pain and Fear of Childbirth—The Case of Eskisehir/Turkey
Bülez, A., Soğukpınar, N., & Sayıner, F. D. (2020) · International Journal of Childbirth · doi:10.1891/ijcbirth-d-19-00008 · Cited by 16
The Childbirth Fear Questionnaire and the Wijma Delivery Expectancy Questionnaire as Screening Tools for Specific Phobia, Fear of Childbirth
Fairbrother, N., Albert, A., Collardeau, F., & Keeney, C. (2022) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph19084647 · Cited by 16
“, 1-2 items only) [57,71,76,86], or include too few 154 items per subscale to achieve stability [87,93].”
Background
Differences in nulliparous caesarean section rates across models of care: a decomposition analysis
Brick, A., Layte, R., Nolan, A., & Turner, M. J. (2016) · BMC Health Services Research · doi:10.1186/s12913-016-1494-3 · Cited by 16
Identifying and Exploring the Informational and Emotional Support Needs of Primipara Women: A Focus on Supportive Communication
Fakhraei, R., & Terrion, J. L. (2017) · The Journal of Perinatal Education · doi:10.1891/1058-1243.26.4.195 · Cited by 16
“Sharing this information with healthcare professionals could contribute to improving the overall quality of care received, as well as other health outcomes for both mother and child. mothers who have had two or more successful pregnancies (Melender, 2002).”
Background
Caesarean section on request: Are there loco-regional factors influencing maternal choice? An Italian experience
Mancuso, A., Vivo, A. D., Fanara, G., Albiero, A., Priolo, A., Giacobbe, A., & Franchi, M. P. (2008) · Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology · doi:10.1080/01443610802091545 · Cited by 16
The Effect of Integrated Yoga on Labor Outcome: A Randomized Controlled Study
Maharana, S., Nagarathna, R., Padmalatha, V., Nagendra, H. R., & Hankey, A. (2013) · International Journal of Childbirth · doi:10.1891/2156-5287.3.3.165 · Cited by 17
“The changes in women’s role in the society and its associated lifestyle modifications appear to be the cause of increasing sensitivity that results in exaggerated stress responses and heightened anxiety (Melender, 2002).”
Background
Factors Affecting Fear of Childbirth Among Urban Women in India: A Qualitative Study
Sharma, B., Jungari, S., & Lawange, A. (2022) · SAGE Open · doi:10.1177/21582440221089485 · Cited by 18
“Approximately 5% to 16% of pregnant women suffer from severe FOC (Adams et al., 2012; Laursen et al., 2008; Melender, 2002; Nieminen et al., 2009; Nilsson et al., 2018; Waldenström et al., 2006).”
Background
COVID-19 Tanılı Gebede Postpartum Kaygı Düzeyi: İki Olgu Sunumu
Çuvadar, A., Özcan, H., Arıkan, M. G., & Ateş, S. (2020) · Ordu Üniversitesi Hemşirelik Çalışmaları Dergisi · doi:10.38108/ouhcd.773462 · Cited by 15
Depression remains a neglected public health problem among pregnant women in Northwest Ethiopia
Beyene, G. M., Azale, T., Gelaye, K. A., & Ayele, T. A. (2021) · Archives of Public Health · doi:10.1186/s13690-021-00649-6 · Cited by 15
The effect of antenatal education on expectant mother’s childbirth attitudes, maternal role attainment, and self-confidence levels
Kakaşçı, Ç. G., Karabulut, Ö., Abbasoğlu, D. E., Potur, D. C., Merih, Y. D., & Demırcı, N. (2021) · Health Care For Women International · doi:10.1080/07399332.2021.1935959 · Cited by 15
“Thus, the woman feels a higher degree of confidence and competence in adopting the maternal role (Mercer, 2004).”
Chilbirth and postpartum period fear of pregnant women and the affecting factors
Cetişli, N. E., Zirek, Z. D., & Abalı, F. B. (2016) · Aquichan · doi:10.5294/aqui.2016.16.1.5 · Cited by 15
Factors influencing childbirth fear among Asian women: a scoping review
Kalok, A. H. M., Atan, I. K., Sharip, S., Safian, N., & Shah, S. A. (2025) · Frontiers in Public Health · doi:10.3389/fpubh.2024.1448940 · Cited by 14
Parenting Fears and Concerns during Pregnancy: A Qualitative Survey
Wilska, A., Rantanen, A., Botha, E., & Joronen, K. (2021) · Nursing Reports · doi:10.3390/nursrep11040082 · Cited by 16
The reasons for delivery: Related fear and associated factors in western Turkey
Sen, E., Dal, N. A., Dağ, H., & Şenveli, S. (2015) · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Cited by 14
Psychometric Evaluation of the Tilburg Pregnancy Distress Scale–Turkish Version (TPDS-T)
Ertuğrul, M., Okumuş, H., Tokat, M. A., & Bektaş, M. (2014) · Journal of Transcultural Nursing · doi:10.1177/1043659614531795 · Cited by 14
“…late attachment to parents, preeclampsia, placental abnormalities, preterm birth, fetal distress, and emergent cesarean (Akbaş et al., 2008; Alder, Fınk, Bitzer, Hösli, & Holzgreve, 2007; Çalık & Aktaş, 2011; Furber, Garrod, Maloney, Lovell, & McGowan, 2009; Johnson & Slade, 2003; Melender, 2002).”
Background
QUESTIONÁRIO DE EXPERIÊNCIA E SATISFAÇÃO COM O PARTO (QESP)
Costa, R. A., Figueiredo, B., Pacheco, A., Marques, A. M. D. R., & Pais, A. (2004) · Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology (RCAAP Project by FCT) · Cited by 13
Evaluation of the effect of hypnobirthing education during antenatal period on fear of childbirth
Bülez, A., Turfan, E. Ç., & Soğukpınar, N. (2018) · The European Research Journal · doi:10.18621/eurj.371102 · Cited by 13
“It was found in a study by Melender [6] that 78% of the women had fears about pregnancy and labour.”
Vulnerability in Birth; A negative capability.
MacLellan, J. (2020) · Journal of Clinical Nursing · doi:10.1111/jocn.15205 · Cited by 13
A comprehensive systematic review of the impact of planned interventions offered to pregnant women who have requested a caesarean section as a result of tokophobia (fear of childbirth)
Weaver, J. J., Browne, J., Aras-Payne, A., & Magill‐Cuerden, J. (2013) · The JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports · doi:10.11124/jbisrir-2013-606 · Cited by 13
US nulliparas' perceptions of roles and of the birth experience as predictors of their delivery preferences
Arcia, A. (2013) · Midwifery · doi:10.1016/j.midw.2012.10.002 · Cited by 13
Kurdish pregnant women's feelings: A qualitative study
Shahoei, R., Riji, H. M., & Saeedi, Z. A. (2009) · Midwifery · doi:10.1016/j.midw.2009.05.011 · Cited by 13
“This finding was in agreement with previous studies (Melender and Lauri, 1999; Sasito et al., 2001; Melender, 2002; Eriksson et al., 2006; Nilsson and Lundgren, 2009; Sercekus and Okumus, 2009).”
Result

Authors: Hanna‐Leena Melender, R.
Venue: Birth
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2002-05-16
Volume: 29
Issue: 2
Pages: 101-111
ISSN: 0730-7659 (ISSN-L)
1523-536X
DOI: 10.1046/j.1523-536x.2002.00170.x
OpenAlex: W2153268917
Cited by: 399
References: 28
Citations by year: 2026: 13 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 31 · 2020: 27 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 22 · 2012: 18
FWCI: 9.80
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations: Birth (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions
Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare
Keywords: fear of childbirth, pregnant women, causes of fear, cesarean section, parity, primiparous women, multiparous women, maternal stress, perinatal care, working conditions
MeSH terms: Adolescent, Adult, Family, Fear, Female, Finland, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Labor, Obstetric, Negativism, Pain, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications, Surveys and Questionnaires, Stress, Physiological, Delivery, Obstetric

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Experiences of Fears Associated with Pregnancy and Childbirth: A Study of 329 Pregnant Women

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