The relationship between personality characteristics and fear of childbirth: A descriptive study

Background: It is emphasized that fear of childbirth is closely related to women's personality characteristics, anxiety levels, low self-esteem, low socialization, neuroticism, low extraversion, vulnerability. Objective: The study was conducted to determine the relationship between personality traits and fear of childbirth. Methods: This was a descriptive study. The study was carried out at the obstetrics policlinic of the research and training hospital. A sample of 853 women at the third trimester of their pregnancies completed the questionnaire. Data were collected using Questionnaire Form, Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Scale A version, Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised/Abbreviated Form. Results: The median neuroticism score was 2.00 among those on a mild level of fear of childbirth, while it was 4.00 among those on a clinical level of fear of childbirth (p < 0.001). The median extraversion score of the pregnant women was 4.00 among those whose fear of childbirth scores were on a mild level, while it was 2.00 among those whose fear of childbirth scores were on a clinical level (p < 0.001). There was a positive correlation between the scores of fear of childbirth and the neuroticism, and a negative correlation between fear of childbirth and extraversion personality trait (p < 0.001). Conclusions: It was concluded that pregnant women who had neuroticism personality demonstrated a higher level of fear of childbirth whereas those who had extraversion personality demonstrated a lower level of fear of childbirth.