Psychological aspects of childbirth: Evidence for a birth?related mindset

Psychological research on childbirth is rare, even though from other scientific fields such as obstetrics or midwifery highlights the importance of psychological factors in childbirth. In this article, theoretical construct a birth-related mindset and direct indirect measures for assessing are proposed. It assumed that can be mentally presented rather natural (natural mindset) medicalized (medicalized event. three online studies (Study 1: N = 117, Study 2: 206, 3: 192), we aimed to explore whether proposed related retrospectively reported process labor birth (operationalized, e.g., by performed interventions, duration birth, place birth). For this, relation between mothers’ decisions outcomes mothers' mindsets were analyzed. Results indicated (1) criteria epidural anesthesia, C-sections associated with mindset, (2) these aspects delivery evaluation (birth experience), (3) moderated relationship C-section experience, (4) had little no added explanatory value developed Mindset Birth Questionnaire. Thus, results indicate experienced women mental representations (birth-related closely related. Future need investigate what extend influences process, both.