Anxiety, self-compassion, perceived social support and resilience in two groups of primiparous pregnant women fully and not attending childbirth preparation classes

Abstract Background Pregnancy involves a combination of physical, social, and emotional changes that can lead to mental health issues, potentially impacting fetal health, childbirth success, and breastfeeding. The present study was conducted to compare anxiety, self-compassion, perceived social supp...

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Main Authors: Hadiseh Hajihatamloo, Marzieh Ebrahimi, Vahid Alinejad, Roghieh Bayrami
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:BMC Psychology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02723-y
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author Hadiseh Hajihatamloo
Marzieh Ebrahimi
Vahid Alinejad
Roghieh Bayrami
author_facet Hadiseh Hajihatamloo
Marzieh Ebrahimi
Vahid Alinejad
Roghieh Bayrami
author_sort Hadiseh Hajihatamloo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Pregnancy involves a combination of physical, social, and emotional changes that can lead to mental health issues, potentially impacting fetal health, childbirth success, and breastfeeding. The present study was conducted to compare anxiety, self-compassion, perceived social support and resilience in two groups of primiparous pregnant women who were either not attending or, fully attending childbirth preparation classes. Methods This descriptive-analytic cross-sectional study included 210 pregnant women who attended comprehensive health centers in Khoy from 2023 to 2024. Participants were selected through random sampling. Data were collected using a demographic characteristics form, the Self-Compassion Scale - Short Form (SCS-SF), the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), the Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire - Revised 2 (PRAQ-R2), and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). The specific statistical tests (chi-square, independent t-test, Mann-Whitney U) were used in SPSS 16 software, at a significance level of p < 0.05. Results The mean score of anxiety was lower in the group of pregnant women fully attending the classes compared to the non-attending group of women (p < 0.001). Additionally, mean scores of self-compassion(p < 0.001), resilience(p < 0.001), and perceived social support (p < 0.001) were significantly higher among women fully attending these classes (p < 0.001). Conclusion Given the lower anxiety and higher self-compassion, resilience, and perceived social support observed in women fully attending childbirth preparation classes, healthcare providers should consider implementing supportive interventions to enhance maternal mental health.
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spelling doaj-art-d89e19b543e34c17b3a9e27d13e32b002025-08-20T01:49:38ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832025-05-011311710.1186/s40359-025-02723-yAnxiety, self-compassion, perceived social support and resilience in two groups of primiparous pregnant women fully and not attending childbirth preparation classesHadiseh Hajihatamloo0Marzieh Ebrahimi1Vahid Alinejad2Roghieh Bayrami3Student Research Committee, Urmia University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Urmia University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Urmia University of Medical SciencesAbstract Background Pregnancy involves a combination of physical, social, and emotional changes that can lead to mental health issues, potentially impacting fetal health, childbirth success, and breastfeeding. The present study was conducted to compare anxiety, self-compassion, perceived social support and resilience in two groups of primiparous pregnant women who were either not attending or, fully attending childbirth preparation classes. Methods This descriptive-analytic cross-sectional study included 210 pregnant women who attended comprehensive health centers in Khoy from 2023 to 2024. Participants were selected through random sampling. Data were collected using a demographic characteristics form, the Self-Compassion Scale - Short Form (SCS-SF), the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), the Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire - Revised 2 (PRAQ-R2), and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). The specific statistical tests (chi-square, independent t-test, Mann-Whitney U) were used in SPSS 16 software, at a significance level of p < 0.05. Results The mean score of anxiety was lower in the group of pregnant women fully attending the classes compared to the non-attending group of women (p < 0.001). Additionally, mean scores of self-compassion(p < 0.001), resilience(p < 0.001), and perceived social support (p < 0.001) were significantly higher among women fully attending these classes (p < 0.001). Conclusion Given the lower anxiety and higher self-compassion, resilience, and perceived social support observed in women fully attending childbirth preparation classes, healthcare providers should consider implementing supportive interventions to enhance maternal mental health.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02723-yAnxietySelf-compassionResilienceSocial supportPregnant womenChildbirth preparation classes
spellingShingle Hadiseh Hajihatamloo
Marzieh Ebrahimi
Vahid Alinejad
Roghieh Bayrami
Anxiety, self-compassion, perceived social support and resilience in two groups of primiparous pregnant women fully and not attending childbirth preparation classes
BMC Psychology
Anxiety
Self-compassion
Resilience
Social support
Pregnant women
Childbirth preparation classes
title Anxiety, self-compassion, perceived social support and resilience in two groups of primiparous pregnant women fully and not attending childbirth preparation classes
title_full Anxiety, self-compassion, perceived social support and resilience in two groups of primiparous pregnant women fully and not attending childbirth preparation classes
title_fullStr Anxiety, self-compassion, perceived social support and resilience in two groups of primiparous pregnant women fully and not attending childbirth preparation classes
title_full_unstemmed Anxiety, self-compassion, perceived social support and resilience in two groups of primiparous pregnant women fully and not attending childbirth preparation classes
title_short Anxiety, self-compassion, perceived social support and resilience in two groups of primiparous pregnant women fully and not attending childbirth preparation classes
title_sort anxiety self compassion perceived social support and resilience in two groups of primiparous pregnant women fully and not attending childbirth preparation classes
topic Anxiety
Self-compassion
Resilience
Social support
Pregnant women
Childbirth preparation classes
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02723-y
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