The mediating role of coping style in the relationship between fear of childbirth and psychological birth trauma among natural childbirth women in China: a structural equation model analysis
Abstract Background Psychological birth trauma represents a significant global public health concern, with an estimated 45% of new mothers reporting such an experience. Researchers mostly focus on the impacts of postpartum mental health issues, such as postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder, mini...
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| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07146-6 |
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| author | Ying Wang Cuiping Liu Yujie Sun Yaqing Yuan Liping Chen |
| author_facet | Ying Wang Cuiping Liu Yujie Sun Yaqing Yuan Liping Chen |
| author_sort | Ying Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Psychological birth trauma represents a significant global public health concern, with an estimated 45% of new mothers reporting such an experience. Researchers mostly focus on the impacts of postpartum mental health issues, such as postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder, minimal attention has been given to the antecedents of psychological birth trauma. This study seeks to investigate the correlation between fear of childbirth and psychological birth trauma among Chinese women who have undergone natural childbirth, as well as the mediating role of coping styles in the association between fear of childbirth and psychological birth trauma. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among 420 women who underwent natural childbirth between June and December 2021 in Shandong Province, China. Data were gathered using the Wijma Delivery Experience Questionnaire, Trait Coping Style Questionnaire, and Impact of Event Scale-Revised. The structural equation model (SEM) was employed to examine the relationships between variables and to develop the final model. Results The prevalence of psychological birth trauma among women who had experienced natural childbirth was recorded at 10.27%. The mean score and standard deviation of psychological birth trauma, fear of birth, positive coping (PC), and negative coping (NC) among these women were 19.7 ± 12.5, 76.9 ± 21.3, 35.66 ± 7.05, and 28.20 ± 7.99, respectively. Findings indicated that women’s fear of childbirth was directly (B = 0.340, p = 0.001) and indirectly (B = 0.124, p = 0.001) linked to women’s psychological birth trauma. Additionally, women’s PC was negatively associated with psychological birth trauma (B= -0.352, p = 0.001), while NC was positively associated with psychological birth trauma (B = 0.199, p = 0.001). Conclusions Chinese women who experienced natural childbirth encountered a moderate level of psychological birth trauma. Women’s coping style plays a pivotal mediating role in the connection between fear of childbirth and psychological birth trauma. Consequently, interventions aimed at diminishing women’s fear of childbirth and enhancing PC skills should be devised and implemented to alleviate women’s psychological birth trauma. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8f59393bfad34136b076206ae8064c44 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2393 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
| spelling | doaj-art-8f59393bfad34136b076206ae8064c442025-01-12T12:43:54ZengBMCBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth1471-23932025-01-012511910.1186/s12884-025-07146-6The mediating role of coping style in the relationship between fear of childbirth and psychological birth trauma among natural childbirth women in China: a structural equation model analysisYing Wang0Cuiping Liu1Yujie Sun2Yaqing Yuan3Liping Chen4School of Nursing, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical SciencesSchool of Nursing, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical SciencesIntensive Care Unit, AnYang Tumor HospitalSchool of Nursing, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical SciencesSchool of Nursing, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical SciencesAbstract Background Psychological birth trauma represents a significant global public health concern, with an estimated 45% of new mothers reporting such an experience. Researchers mostly focus on the impacts of postpartum mental health issues, such as postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder, minimal attention has been given to the antecedents of psychological birth trauma. This study seeks to investigate the correlation between fear of childbirth and psychological birth trauma among Chinese women who have undergone natural childbirth, as well as the mediating role of coping styles in the association between fear of childbirth and psychological birth trauma. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among 420 women who underwent natural childbirth between June and December 2021 in Shandong Province, China. Data were gathered using the Wijma Delivery Experience Questionnaire, Trait Coping Style Questionnaire, and Impact of Event Scale-Revised. The structural equation model (SEM) was employed to examine the relationships between variables and to develop the final model. Results The prevalence of psychological birth trauma among women who had experienced natural childbirth was recorded at 10.27%. The mean score and standard deviation of psychological birth trauma, fear of birth, positive coping (PC), and negative coping (NC) among these women were 19.7 ± 12.5, 76.9 ± 21.3, 35.66 ± 7.05, and 28.20 ± 7.99, respectively. Findings indicated that women’s fear of childbirth was directly (B = 0.340, p = 0.001) and indirectly (B = 0.124, p = 0.001) linked to women’s psychological birth trauma. Additionally, women’s PC was negatively associated with psychological birth trauma (B= -0.352, p = 0.001), while NC was positively associated with psychological birth trauma (B = 0.199, p = 0.001). Conclusions Chinese women who experienced natural childbirth encountered a moderate level of psychological birth trauma. Women’s coping style plays a pivotal mediating role in the connection between fear of childbirth and psychological birth trauma. Consequently, interventions aimed at diminishing women’s fear of childbirth and enhancing PC skills should be devised and implemented to alleviate women’s psychological birth trauma.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07146-6Fear of childbirthPositive coping stylesNegative coping stylesPsychological birth traumaNatural childbirth womenMediating role |
| spellingShingle | Ying Wang Cuiping Liu Yujie Sun Yaqing Yuan Liping Chen The mediating role of coping style in the relationship between fear of childbirth and psychological birth trauma among natural childbirth women in China: a structural equation model analysis BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Fear of childbirth Positive coping styles Negative coping styles Psychological birth trauma Natural childbirth women Mediating role |
| title | The mediating role of coping style in the relationship between fear of childbirth and psychological birth trauma among natural childbirth women in China: a structural equation model analysis |
| title_full | The mediating role of coping style in the relationship between fear of childbirth and psychological birth trauma among natural childbirth women in China: a structural equation model analysis |
| title_fullStr | The mediating role of coping style in the relationship between fear of childbirth and psychological birth trauma among natural childbirth women in China: a structural equation model analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | The mediating role of coping style in the relationship between fear of childbirth and psychological birth trauma among natural childbirth women in China: a structural equation model analysis |
| title_short | The mediating role of coping style in the relationship between fear of childbirth and psychological birth trauma among natural childbirth women in China: a structural equation model analysis |
| title_sort | mediating role of coping style in the relationship between fear of childbirth and psychological birth trauma among natural childbirth women in china a structural equation model analysis |
| topic | Fear of childbirth Positive coping styles Negative coping styles Psychological birth trauma Natural childbirth women Mediating role |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07146-6 |
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