A structural equation model analysis of the relationship between expectant fathers' fear of COVID-19 and their fear of childbirth: The mediating role of maternal fear of childbirth.
COVID-19
Childbirth
Fathers
Fear
Structural equation model
Journal
Midwifery
ISSN: 1532-3099
Titre abrégé: Midwifery
Pays: Scotland
ID NLM: 8510930
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Oct 2023
Oct 2023
Historique:
received:
29
01
2023
revised:
09
07
2023
accepted:
02
08
2023
medline:
25
9
2023
pubmed:
19
8
2023
entrez:
18
8
2023
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Pregnancy and childbirth may provoke various emotional responses in expectant fathers including excessive fear of childbirth. It is not unreasonable to assume that fear of contracting the virus during the COVID-19 pandemic, may have intensified fathers' fear of childbirth. This study aims to determine the mediating role of the expectant mothers' fear of childbirth in the relationship between expectant fathers' fear of COVID-19 and their fear of childbirth. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 270 pregnant women and their spouses attending health centers from Aug 2021 to April 2022. Fathers' fear of childbirth scale (FFCS), Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ-A), and Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) were used to collect data. To examine the relationships between variables and to develop the final model, we used the structural equation model (SEM). The prevalence of severe fear of childbirth in fathers and their female spouses were 40.9% and 22.4%, respectively. The mean score and standard deviation of fear of childbirth in the fathers and their female spouses were 49.2 ± 17.1 and 62.5 ± 29.4, respectively. Results showed that fathers' fear of COVID-19 was directly (B = 0.44, p = 0.004) and indirectly (B = 0.13, p = 0.015) associated with fathers' fear of childbirth. Also, women's fear of childbirth was positively associated with fathers' fear of childbirth (B = 0.45, p = 0.030). In the final model, the values of χ2/df, CFI, PCFI, RMSEA, and SRMR were equal to 2.32, 0.94, 0.76, 0.07, and 0.06, respectively. We found a high prevalence of severe fear of childbirth in Iranian expectant fathers which means that fathers' fear of childbirth is a national health concern that needs to be addressed. The findings of the present study indicate that mothers' fear of childbirth has a mediating role in the relationship between fathers' fear of COVID and fear of childbirth. Therefore, to alleviate fathers' fear of childbirth, interventions to reduce fathers' fear of COVID-19 and women's fear of childbirth should be developed and implemented. The impact of fathers' mental health on the fear of childbirth in expectant couples should be further investigated.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Pregnancy and childbirth may provoke various emotional responses in expectant fathers including excessive fear of childbirth. It is not unreasonable to assume that fear of contracting the virus during the COVID-19 pandemic, may have intensified fathers' fear of childbirth. This study aims to determine the mediating role of the expectant mothers' fear of childbirth in the relationship between expectant fathers' fear of COVID-19 and their fear of childbirth.
METHODS
METHODS
This cross-sectional study was conducted on 270 pregnant women and their spouses attending health centers from Aug 2021 to April 2022. Fathers' fear of childbirth scale (FFCS), Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ-A), and Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) were used to collect data. To examine the relationships between variables and to develop the final model, we used the structural equation model (SEM).
RESULTS
RESULTS
The prevalence of severe fear of childbirth in fathers and their female spouses were 40.9% and 22.4%, respectively. The mean score and standard deviation of fear of childbirth in the fathers and their female spouses were 49.2 ± 17.1 and 62.5 ± 29.4, respectively. Results showed that fathers' fear of COVID-19 was directly (B = 0.44, p = 0.004) and indirectly (B = 0.13, p = 0.015) associated with fathers' fear of childbirth. Also, women's fear of childbirth was positively associated with fathers' fear of childbirth (B = 0.45, p = 0.030). In the final model, the values of χ2/df, CFI, PCFI, RMSEA, and SRMR were equal to 2.32, 0.94, 0.76, 0.07, and 0.06, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
We found a high prevalence of severe fear of childbirth in Iranian expectant fathers which means that fathers' fear of childbirth is a national health concern that needs to be addressed. The findings of the present study indicate that mothers' fear of childbirth has a mediating role in the relationship between fathers' fear of COVID and fear of childbirth. Therefore, to alleviate fathers' fear of childbirth, interventions to reduce fathers' fear of COVID-19 and women's fear of childbirth should be developed and implemented. The impact of fathers' mental health on the fear of childbirth in expectant couples should be further investigated.
Identifiants
pubmed: 37595365
pii: S0266-6138(23)00193-6
doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2023.103790
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
103790Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.