Development of the Japanese version of the fear of childbirth scale, and the relation to psychosocial factors among Japanese pregnant women.

2013 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23660058
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Lifelong developmental nursing
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: HARUNA Megumi 東京大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 准教授 (00332601)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): MURAYAMA Ryoko 東京大学, 医学系研究科, 特任准教授 (10279854) ; MATSUZAKI Masayo 東京大学, 医学系研究科, 講師 (40547824)
• Project Period (FY): 2011 – 2013
• Keywords: 分娩恐怖感 / 尺度開発 / 心理社会的要因 / 妊娠

Research Abstract

This study aimed to develop the Japanese scale for measuring fear of childbirth, and to explore psychosocial factors for fear of childbirth among Japanese pregnant women. First, we translated the Swedish Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ) version A (which assesses antenatal fear of childbirth) and version B (which assesses postnatal fear of childbirth) into Japanese. The translated W-DEQ versions were confirmed their validity and reliability. Secondly, we solicited Japanese pregnant women who were at three obstetrical facilities for answering self-administered questionnaires at late pregnancy, three days and one month postpartum. The results revealed that individual's vulnerability towards stressful events such as a lower sense of coherence and a higher anxiety trait were associated with fear of childbirth.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Antenatal fear of childbirth and sense of coherence among healthy pregnant women in Japan : A cross-sectional study (2014)
  • Author(s): Takegata, M., Haruna, M., Matsuzaki, M., Shiraishi, M., Okano, T. & Severinsson, E
  • Journal Title: Archieves Women's Mental Health Volume: (in press)
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Translation and validation of the Japanese version of the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (2013)
  • Author(s): Takegata, M., Haruna, M., Matsuzaki, M., Shiraishi, M., Murayama, R., Okano, T. & Severinsson, E
  • Journal Title: Nursing & Health Science Volume: 15(3) Pages: 326-332
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] Sense of coherence during perinatal period and its influence on acute traumatic stress symptoms following childbirth (2014)
  • Author(s): Takegata, M., Haruna, M., Matsuzaki, M., Shiraishi, M., Okano, T., & Severinsson, E
  • Organizer: Optimising Across Europe Conference 2014
  • Place of Presentation: Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgian
  • Year and Date: 20140409-10
• [Presentation] 妊娠期の出産恐怖感が出産体験及び産後のトラウマ症状に及ぼす影響(一般演題口頭発表) (2013)
  • Author(s): 竹形みずき, 春名めぐみ, 中村真奈美, 松崎政代, 白石三恵, 岡野禎治, Elisabeth Severinsson
  • Organizer: 第10回周産期メンタルヘルス研究会学術集会
  • Place of Presentation: 日本赤十字看護大学内ホール(東京)
  • Year and Date: 20131109-10
• [Presentation] Fear of childbirth in Japan (2013)
  • Author(s): Haruna, M., & Takegata, M
  • Organizer: 17th International Congress of the International Society of Psychosomatic Obstetics an Gynaecology (ISPOG) (Symposist Oral presentation)
  • Place of Presentation: Langenbeck-Virchow-Haus, Berlin, Germany
  • Year and Date: 20130522-24