Cited by 168Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and PostpartumMaternal and Perinatal Health InterventionsPsychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research

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Reasons for anxiety about childbirth in 100 pregnant women

Sjögren, B.·1997·Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology

DOI 10.3109/01674829709080698

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Abstract

The aims were to document conscious reasons for anxiety about childbirth. Pregnant women (n = 100), consecutively referred from antenatal centers to a psychosomatic outpatient clinic because of extreme fear of childbirth, were interviewed. Three subgroups are described: primiparae (n = 36), women with a normal previous delivery (n = 18) and women with a previous complicated delivery (n = 46). Anxiety over the deliver was related to lack of trust in the obstetrical staff (73%), fear of own incompetence (65%), fear of death of mother, infant or both (55%), intolerable pain (44%) or loss of control (43%). In the description of the anxiety, more than one focus could be described. A previous complicated delivery predisposed for fear of death (p < 0.001). In other aspects, the subgroups were similar. Fear of death in a previous labor was associated with this fear regarding the impending delivery (100%, 21%, p < 0.001) and with fear of loss of control (61%, 18% p < 0.01). Many women (37%) had partners who admitted anxiety over the delivery. Anxiety over childbirth is related to fundamental human feelings: lack of trust, fear of female incompetence and fear of death. Fear of pain is important but not predominant. The results are discussed with regard to stress, theoretical and psychodynamic points of view.

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Authors: Sjögren, B.
Affiliations: Karolinska University Hospital (SE)
Corresponding author: Sjögren, B.
Venue: Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Published: 1997-01
Volume: 18
Issue: 4
Pages: 266-272
ISSN: 0167-482X (ISSN-L)
1743-8942
DOI: 10.3109/01674829709080698
OpenAlex: W2108026735
Cited by: 168
References: 22
Citations by year: 2026: 3 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 7
FWCI: 3.22
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: Svenska Läkaresällskapet
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
Keywords: fear of childbirth, pregnant women, fear of death, loss of control, labor pain
MeSH terms: Adult, Anxiety, Fear, Female, Humans, Labor, Obstetric, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications, Socioeconomic Factors, Sweden, Reproductive History, Statistics, Nonparametric

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Reasons for anxiety about childbirth in 100 pregnant women

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