The relationship between self-compassion and fear of childbirth in pregnant women with gestational diabetes
Abstract Background Fear of natural childbirth has become a common concern among women. One of the most important risk factors for fear of childbirth is gestational diabetes. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between self-compassion and fear of childbirth in pregnant women with g...
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BMC
2025-02-01
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| Series: | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07273-0 |
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| author | Parisa Shadab Sousan Heydarpour Fatemeh Heydarpour Mahsa Barkhordari |
| author_facet | Parisa Shadab Sousan Heydarpour Fatemeh Heydarpour Mahsa Barkhordari |
| author_sort | Parisa Shadab |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Fear of natural childbirth has become a common concern among women. One of the most important risk factors for fear of childbirth is gestational diabetes. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between self-compassion and fear of childbirth in pregnant women with gestational diabetes. Method This cross-sectional study was conducted on 75 primiparous pregnant women with gestational diabetes referred to health centers in Kermanshah city, Iran in 2023, who were selected through multi-stage random sampling. Data collection was performed from May to October 2023. Data were collected using a demographic form, the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire Version A and the Self-Compassion Scale, and were analyzed using SPSS version 25 with Kruskal Wallis test, ANOVA, Spearman’s correlation coefficient, and the multiple linear regression analysis. Results The mean fear of childbirth score in pregnant women with diabetes was 89.77 ± 32.99. 7 participants (9.3%) had moderate fear (score 38–65), 12 participants (16%) had severe fear (score 66–84), and 47 participants (62.7%) had clinical fear (score 85 or higher) of childbirth. According to the study results, there was a significant negative correlation between the total fear of childbirth score and the total self-compassion score, as well as its subscales including self-kindness, self-judgment, common humanity, isolation, mindfulness, and over-identification. Conclusion The present study demonstrated a significant negative relationship between fear of childbirth and self-compassion. Therefore, specific interventions or training for providers to help women build self-compassion, and culturally tailored interventions are recommended. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4f509f6630654149b2c8d50f884abd1d |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1471-2393 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
| spelling | doaj-art-4f509f6630654149b2c8d50f884abd1d2025-08-20T03:01:01ZengBMCBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth1471-23932025-02-0125111010.1186/s12884-025-07273-0The relationship between self-compassion and fear of childbirth in pregnant women with gestational diabetesParisa Shadab0Sousan Heydarpour1Fatemeh Heydarpour2Mahsa Barkhordari3Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Kermanshah University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Kermanshah University of Medical SciencesMedical Biology Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical SciencesStudent Research Committee, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Kermanshah University of Medical SciencesAbstract Background Fear of natural childbirth has become a common concern among women. One of the most important risk factors for fear of childbirth is gestational diabetes. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between self-compassion and fear of childbirth in pregnant women with gestational diabetes. Method This cross-sectional study was conducted on 75 primiparous pregnant women with gestational diabetes referred to health centers in Kermanshah city, Iran in 2023, who were selected through multi-stage random sampling. Data collection was performed from May to October 2023. Data were collected using a demographic form, the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire Version A and the Self-Compassion Scale, and were analyzed using SPSS version 25 with Kruskal Wallis test, ANOVA, Spearman’s correlation coefficient, and the multiple linear regression analysis. Results The mean fear of childbirth score in pregnant women with diabetes was 89.77 ± 32.99. 7 participants (9.3%) had moderate fear (score 38–65), 12 participants (16%) had severe fear (score 66–84), and 47 participants (62.7%) had clinical fear (score 85 or higher) of childbirth. According to the study results, there was a significant negative correlation between the total fear of childbirth score and the total self-compassion score, as well as its subscales including self-kindness, self-judgment, common humanity, isolation, mindfulness, and over-identification. Conclusion The present study demonstrated a significant negative relationship between fear of childbirth and self-compassion. Therefore, specific interventions or training for providers to help women build self-compassion, and culturally tailored interventions are recommended.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07273-0Self-compassionFearChildbirthPregnant womenGestational diabetes mellitus |
| spellingShingle | Parisa Shadab Sousan Heydarpour Fatemeh Heydarpour Mahsa Barkhordari The relationship between self-compassion and fear of childbirth in pregnant women with gestational diabetes BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Self-compassion Fear Childbirth Pregnant women Gestational diabetes mellitus |
| title | The relationship between self-compassion and fear of childbirth in pregnant women with gestational diabetes |
| title_full | The relationship between self-compassion and fear of childbirth in pregnant women with gestational diabetes |
| title_fullStr | The relationship between self-compassion and fear of childbirth in pregnant women with gestational diabetes |
| title_full_unstemmed | The relationship between self-compassion and fear of childbirth in pregnant women with gestational diabetes |
| title_short | The relationship between self-compassion and fear of childbirth in pregnant women with gestational diabetes |
| title_sort | relationship between self compassion and fear of childbirth in pregnant women with gestational diabetes |
| topic | Self-compassion Fear Childbirth Pregnant women Gestational diabetes mellitus |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07273-0 |
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