Does Antenatal Fear of Childbirth Predict Postnatal Fear of Childbirth? A Study of Japanese Women
Author(s)
Mizuki Takegata1*,
Megumi Haruna1,
Masayo Matsuzaki1,
Mie Shiraishi1,
Tadaharu Okano2,
Elisabeth Severinsson3
Affiliation(s)
1 Department of Midwifery and Women’s Health, Division of Health Sciences & Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. 2 Center of Physical and Mental Health, Mie University, Tsu City, Japan. 3 Centre for Women’s, Family & Child Health, Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Buskerud & Vestfold University College, Kongsberg, Norway.
1 Department of Midwifery and Women’s Health, Division of Health Sciences & Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. 2 Center of Physical and Mental Health, Mie University, Tsu City, Japan. 3 Centre for Women’s, Family & Child Health, Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Buskerud & Vestfold University College, Kongsberg, Norway.
ABSTRACT
The study aimed to determine whether antenatal fear of childbirth (expectation) could predict postnatal fear of childbirth (experience) by taking account of other antenatal psychological variables (anxiety and depression) as well as birth outcomes in Japanese women. A longitudinal observational study was conducted at a clinic in Tokyo, Japan, in 2011. Self-report questionnaires were distributed to 240 Japanese women at 37 gestational weeks (Time 1) and on the second day after delivery (Time 2). Regression analyses by means of structural equation modelling were conducted in both the primiparous and the multiparous group. The models exhibited good fit (chisquare value/degree of freedom = 1.10 - 1.62, comparative fit index = 0.92 - 0.99 and root mean square error of approximation = 0.03 - 0.07). Antenatal fear of childbirth was the most predictive variable of postnatal fear of childbirth in both the primiparous (β = 0.58, p = 0.002) and the multiparous group (β = 0.62, p < 0.001). In conclusion, antenatal fear of childbirth was a significant predictor of postnatal fear of childbirth when other antenatal psychological variables and birth outcomes were taken into account. Pregnant women who are strongly afraid of childbirth need special attention before and after delivery.
The study aimed to determine whether antenatal fear of childbirth (expectation) could predict postnatal fear of childbirth (experience) by taking account of other antenatal psychological variables (anxiety and depression) as well as birth outcomes in Japanese women. A longitudinal observational study was conducted at a clinic in Tokyo, Japan, in 2011. Self-report questionnaires were distributed to 240 Japanese women at 37 gestational weeks (Time 1) and on the second day after delivery (Time 2). Regression analyses by means of structural equation modelling were conducted in both the primiparous and the multiparous group. The models exhibited good fit (chisquare value/degree of freedom = 1.10 - 1.62, comparative fit index = 0.92 - 0.99 and root mean square error of approximation = 0.03 - 0.07). Antenatal fear of childbirth was the most predictive variable of postnatal fear of childbirth in both the primiparous (β = 0.58, p = 0.002) and the multiparous group (β = 0.62, p < 0.001). In conclusion, antenatal fear of childbirth was a significant predictor of postnatal fear of childbirth when other antenatal psychological variables and birth outcomes were taken into account. Pregnant women who are strongly afraid of childbirth need special attention before and after delivery.
Cite this paper
Takegata, M. , Haruna, M. , Matsuzaki, M. , Shiraishi, M. , Okano, T. and Severinsson, E. (2015) Does Antenatal Fear of Childbirth Predict Postnatal Fear of Childbirth? A Study of Japanese Women. Open Journal of Nursing, 5, 144-152. doi: 10.4236/ojn.2015.52017.
Takegata, M. , Haruna, M. , Matsuzaki, M. , Shiraishi, M. , Okano, T. and Severinsson, E. (2015) Does Antenatal Fear of Childbirth Predict Postnatal Fear of Childbirth? A Study of Japanese Women. Open Journal of Nursing, 5, 144-152. doi: 10.4236/ojn.2015.52017.
References
[1] Eriksson, C., Jansson, L. and Hamberg, K. (2006) Women’s Experiences of Intense Fear Related to Childbirth Investigated in a Swedish Qualitative Study. Midwifery, 22, 240-248.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2005.10.002 [2] Geissbuehler, V. and Eberhard, J. (2002) Fear of Childbirth during Pregnancy: A Study of More than 8000 Pregnant Women. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics Gynaecology, 23, 229-235.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/01674820209074677 [3] Nilsson, C. and Lundgren, I. (2009) Women’s Lived Experience of Fear of Childbirth. Midwifery, 25, 1-9.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2007.01.017 [4] Wijma, K., Wijma, B. and Zar, M. (1998) Psychometric Aspects of the W-DEQ: A New Questionnaire for the Measurement of Fear of Childbirth. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics Gynaecology, 19, 84-97.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/01674829809048501 [5] Nieminen, K., Stephansson, O. and Ryding, E.L. (2009) Women’s Fear of Childbirth and Preference for Cesarean Section: A Cross-Sectional Study at Various Stages of Pregnancy in Sweden. Acta Obstetrics Gynecology Scandinavia, 88, 807-813.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00016340902998436 [6] Zar, M., Wijma, K. and Wijma, B. (2002) Relations between Anxiety Disorders and Fear of Childbirth during Late Pregnancy. Clinical Psychology Psychotherapy, 9, 122-130.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cpp.305 [7] Hall, W.A., Hauck, Y.L., Carty, E.M., Hutton, E.K., Fenwick, J. and Stoll, K. (2009) Childbirth Fear, Anxiety, Fatigue and Sleep Deprivation in Pregnant Women. Journal of Obstetric Gynecologic Neonatal Nursing, 38, 567-576.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1552-6909.2009.01054.x [8] Fenwick, J., Gamble, J., Nathan, E., Bayes, S. and Hauck, Y. (2009) Pre- and Postpartum Levels of Childbirth Fear and the Relationship to Birth Outcomes in a Cohort of Australian Women. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 18, 667-677.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2702.2008.02568.x [9] Zar, M., Wijma, K. and Wijma, B. (2001) Pre- and Postpartum Fear of Childbirth in Nulliparous and Parous Women. Scandinavian Journal of Behaviour Therapy, 30, 75-84.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02845710121310 [10] Verreault, N., Da Costa, D., Marchand, M., Ireland, K., Banack, H., Dritsa, M. and Khalifé M. (2012) PTSD Following Childbirth: A Prospective Study of Incidence and Risk Factors in Canadian Women. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 73, 257-263.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2012.07.010 [11] Garthus-Niegel, S., Von Soest, T., Vollrath, M.E. and Eberhard-Gran, M. (2013) The Impact of Subjective Birth Experiences on Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms: A Longitudinal Study. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 16, 1-10.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00737-012-0301-3 [12] Waldenström, U., Hildingsson, I. and Ryding, E.L. (2006) Antenatal Fear of Childbirth and Its Association with Subsequent Caesarean Section and Experience of Childbirth. International Journal of Obstetric Gynaecology, 113, 638-646.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0528.2006.00950.x [13] Terui, K. (2009) Comparison of the Obstetric Anesthesia Practice between Japan and USA. Masui, 58, 1473-1475. (In Japanese) [14] Yoshida, K. (2010) Attitudes of Healthcare Practitioners and Consumers toward the “Acceptance” and “Avoidance” of Labor Pains. Boseieisei, 51, 99-109. (In Japanese) [15] Takegata, M., Haruna, M., Murayama, R., Masayo, M., Okano, T. and Severinsson, E. (2013) Translation and Validation of the Japanese Version of the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire Version A. Nursing and Health Science, 15, 326-332.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/nhs.12036 [16] Johnson, R. and Slade, P. (2002) Does Fear of Childbirth during Pregnancy Predict Emergency Caesarean Section? BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 109, 1213-1221.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1471-0528.2002.01351.x [17] Wiklund, I., Edman, G., Ryding, E.L. and Andolf, E. (2008) Expectation and Experiences of Childbirth in Primiparae with Caesarean Section. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 115, 324-331.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0528.2007.01564.x [18] Zigmond, A.S. and Snaith, R.P. (1983) The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavia, 67, 361-370.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0447.1983.tb09716.x [19] Kitamura, T. (1993) The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Archives of Psychiatric Diagnostics and Clinical Evaluation, 4, 371-372. (In Japanese) [20] Kline, R.B. (2004) Principles and Practice of Structural Equation Modeling. 2nd Edition, Guilfold Publications Inc., New York. [21] Byrne, B.M. (2001) Structural Equation Modeling with AMOS: Basic Concepts, Applications, and Programming. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Mahwah. [22] Creedy, D.K., Shochet, I.M. and Horsfall, J. (2000) Childbirth and the Development of Acute Trauma Symptoms: Incidence and Contributing Factors. Birth, 27, 104-111.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1523-536x.2000.00104.x [23] Söderquist, J., Wijma, B., Thorbert, G. and Wijma, K. (2009) Risk Factors in Pregnancy for Post-Traumatic Stress and Depression after Childbirth. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 116, 672-680. [24] Waldenström, U., Borg, I.M., Olsson, B., Sköld, M. and Wall, S. (1996) The Childbirth Experience: A Study of 295 New Mothers. Birth, 31, 17-27. [25] Goodman, P., Mackey, M.C. and Tavakoli, A.S. (2004) Factors Related to Childbirth Satisfaction. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 46, 212-219.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2003.02981.x
[1] Eriksson, C., Jansson, L. and Hamberg, K. (2006) Women’s Experiences of Intense Fear Related to Childbirth Investigated in a Swedish Qualitative Study. Midwifery, 22, 240-248.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2005.10.002 [2] Geissbuehler, V. and Eberhard, J. (2002) Fear of Childbirth during Pregnancy: A Study of More than 8000 Pregnant Women. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics Gynaecology, 23, 229-235.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/01674820209074677 [3] Nilsson, C. and Lundgren, I. (2009) Women’s Lived Experience of Fear of Childbirth. Midwifery, 25, 1-9.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2007.01.017 [4] Wijma, K., Wijma, B. and Zar, M. (1998) Psychometric Aspects of the W-DEQ: A New Questionnaire for the Measurement of Fear of Childbirth. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics Gynaecology, 19, 84-97.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/01674829809048501 [5] Nieminen, K., Stephansson, O. and Ryding, E.L. (2009) Women’s Fear of Childbirth and Preference for Cesarean Section: A Cross-Sectional Study at Various Stages of Pregnancy in Sweden. Acta Obstetrics Gynecology Scandinavia, 88, 807-813.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00016340902998436 [6] Zar, M., Wijma, K. and Wijma, B. (2002) Relations between Anxiety Disorders and Fear of Childbirth during Late Pregnancy. Clinical Psychology Psychotherapy, 9, 122-130.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cpp.305 [7] Hall, W.A., Hauck, Y.L., Carty, E.M., Hutton, E.K., Fenwick, J. and Stoll, K. (2009) Childbirth Fear, Anxiety, Fatigue and Sleep Deprivation in Pregnant Women. Journal of Obstetric Gynecologic Neonatal Nursing, 38, 567-576.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1552-6909.2009.01054.x [8] Fenwick, J., Gamble, J., Nathan, E., Bayes, S. and Hauck, Y. (2009) Pre- and Postpartum Levels of Childbirth Fear and the Relationship to Birth Outcomes in a Cohort of Australian Women. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 18, 667-677.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2702.2008.02568.x [9] Zar, M., Wijma, K. and Wijma, B. (2001) Pre- and Postpartum Fear of Childbirth in Nulliparous and Parous Women. Scandinavian Journal of Behaviour Therapy, 30, 75-84.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02845710121310 [10] Verreault, N., Da Costa, D., Marchand, M., Ireland, K., Banack, H., Dritsa, M. and Khalifé M. (2012) PTSD Following Childbirth: A Prospective Study of Incidence and Risk Factors in Canadian Women. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 73, 257-263.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2012.07.010 [11] Garthus-Niegel, S., Von Soest, T., Vollrath, M.E. and Eberhard-Gran, M. (2013) The Impact of Subjective Birth Experiences on Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms: A Longitudinal Study. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 16, 1-10.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00737-012-0301-3 [12] Waldenström, U., Hildingsson, I. and Ryding, E.L. (2006) Antenatal Fear of Childbirth and Its Association with Subsequent Caesarean Section and Experience of Childbirth. International Journal of Obstetric Gynaecology, 113, 638-646.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0528.2006.00950.x [13] Terui, K. (2009) Comparison of the Obstetric Anesthesia Practice between Japan and USA. Masui, 58, 1473-1475. (In Japanese) [14] Yoshida, K. (2010) Attitudes of Healthcare Practitioners and Consumers toward the “Acceptance” and “Avoidance” of Labor Pains. Boseieisei, 51, 99-109. (In Japanese) [15] Takegata, M., Haruna, M., Murayama, R., Masayo, M., Okano, T. and Severinsson, E. (2013) Translation and Validation of the Japanese Version of the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire Version A. Nursing and Health Science, 15, 326-332.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/nhs.12036 [16] Johnson, R. and Slade, P. (2002) Does Fear of Childbirth during Pregnancy Predict Emergency Caesarean Section? BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 109, 1213-1221.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1471-0528.2002.01351.x [17] Wiklund, I., Edman, G., Ryding, E.L. and Andolf, E. (2008) Expectation and Experiences of Childbirth in Primiparae with Caesarean Section. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 115, 324-331.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0528.2007.01564.x [18] Zigmond, A.S. and Snaith, R.P. (1983) The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavia, 67, 361-370.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0447.1983.tb09716.x [19] Kitamura, T. (1993) The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Archives of Psychiatric Diagnostics and Clinical Evaluation, 4, 371-372. (In Japanese) [20] Kline, R.B. (2004) Principles and Practice of Structural Equation Modeling. 2nd Edition, Guilfold Publications Inc., New York. [21] Byrne, B.M. (2001) Structural Equation Modeling with AMOS: Basic Concepts, Applications, and Programming. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Mahwah. [22] Creedy, D.K., Shochet, I.M. and Horsfall, J. (2000) Childbirth and the Development of Acute Trauma Symptoms: Incidence and Contributing Factors. Birth, 27, 104-111.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1523-536x.2000.00104.x [23] Söderquist, J., Wijma, B., Thorbert, G. and Wijma, K. (2009) Risk Factors in Pregnancy for Post-Traumatic Stress and Depression after Childbirth. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 116, 672-680. [24] Waldenström, U., Borg, I.M., Olsson, B., Sköld, M. and Wall, S. (1996) The Childbirth Experience: A Study of 295 New Mothers. Birth, 31, 17-27. [25] Goodman, P., Mackey, M.C. and Tavakoli, A.S. (2004) Factors Related to Childbirth Satisfaction. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 46, 212-219.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2003.02981.x