Mediating effect of childbirth self-efficacy between pregnant women's mindfulness level and fear of childbirth

Objective To explore the mediating effect of the childbirth self-efficacy between mindfulness level and fear of childbirth in pregnant women. Methods A total of 285 pregnant women were measured with five facet mindfulness questionnaire(FFMQ), childbirth attitude questionnaire(FOC), and the short form of the Chinese childbirth self-efficacy inventory(CBSEI-C32). Results The scores of mindfulness level, fear of childbirth, outcome expectancy and self-efficacy expectancy were(127.51±11.12), (31.44±8.84), (109.36±30.52)and(110.02±30.03), respectively.Pearson correlation analysis showed that mindfulness level was positively correlated with outcome expectancy and self-efficacy expectancy(r=0.247, r=0.235, both P<0.01), while negatively correlated with fear of childbirth(r=-0.274, P<0.01). Outcome expectancy and self-efficacy expectancy were negatively correlated with fear of childbirth(r=-0.251, r=-0.233, both P<0.01). The mediating effect of outcome expectancy and self-efficacy expectancy between mindfulness level and fear of childbirth was significant(P<0.01), and the mediating effect sizes were 17.8% and 15.6%, respectively. Conclusion Childbirth self-efficacy partly mediates mindfulness level and fear of childbirth in pregnant women. Key words: Mindfulness level; Fear of childbirth; Childbirth self-efficacy