Childbirth related fear and worry

About 15-20% of pregnant women report worry of fear regarding their upcoming childbirth. Despite the high prevalence, psychological models of this form of fear or anxiety is still lacking.

This aim of this study is to enhance our understanding of psychological factors that may contribute to the development and maintenance of childbirth fear among pregnant women. The project, originally a cross-sectional study, included women in antenatal health care in two medium-sized Swedish regions. The study is now expanded, also gathering medical data from the childbirth and self-report data 6-8 months postpartum.

This project is a collaborative effort between the Department of Psychology, Mid Sweden University and the Center for Health and Medical Psychology (CHAMP), Örebro University.

Project group: Johanna Thomtén (associate professor MIUN), Örjan Sundin (professor MIUN), Elisabet Rondung (PhD student MIUN), Ida Flink (associate professor CHAMP), Lisa Lundström (specialist of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Region Jämtland Härjedalen)

Head of project: Johanna Thomtén, associate professor, Department of Psychology, Mid Sweden University

Contact: Elisabet Rondung