Work

Relationship Between Fear of Childbirth and Prenatal Depression: A Moderated Mediation Model

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Background: Fear of childbirth is a common psychological problem among women during the perinatal period. It not only affects the physical and mental health of the mother, but also has an impact on the health of the fetus. Studies have shown that fear of childbirth has a significant positive predictive effect on prenatal depression. However, there are few studies exploring the underlying mechanism between fear of childbirth and depression. Methods: Childbirth Attitude Questionnaire, Social Support Rating Scale, Rumination Scale and Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale were used to measure 2765 Chinese pregnant women. Results: Fear of childbirth had a positive predictive effect on prenatal depression ( β = 0.11, t = 15.63, P < 0.001); rumination played a partial mediating role in the influence of fear of childbirth on prenatal depression, with an indirect effect value of 0.05; social support not only moderated the impact pathway of childbirth fear on rumination ( β = − 0.01, t = − 2.26, P < 0.01), but also moderated the impact pathway of rumination on prenatal depression ( β = − 0.01, t = − 2.12, P < 0.01). Conclusion: Rumination mediated the relationship between fear of childbirth and prenatal depression, and social support had a moderating effect on the first and second half of the mediation model. Keywords: prenatal depression, fear of childbirth, social support, rumination, moderated mediation model

Source: International Journal of Women s Health

DOI: 10.2147/ijwh.s552706

Authors: Jingjing Han, Hongyan Xie, Shiqian Ni, Aixia Zhang

Institutions: Soochow University, Nanjing Medical University

Language: English

Topic: Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum

Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,836