Psychologists' experiences of working with fear of childbirth: implications and advice for care providers.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Psychologists' experiences of working with fear of childbirth: implications and advice for care providers.
Authors: Rondung, Elisabet (AUTHOR), Lier, Emma (AUTHOR), Ternström, Elin (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Reproductive & Infant Psychology. Jun2026, Vol. 44 Issue 3, p718-732. 15p.
Subjects: Treatment of emotional trauma, Work, Phobias, Sexual partners, Cesarean section, Documentation, Psychologists, Focus groups, Qualitative research, Interprofessional relations, Interviewing, Respiration, Social services, Listening, Psychoeducation, Problem solving, Uncertainty, Thematic analysis, Need (Psychology), Medical records, Medical appointments, Communication, Data analysis software, Needs assessment, Cognitive therapy, Imagination, Counseling, Experiential learning, Childbirth, Video recording, Patients' attitudes, Relaxation for health, Hospital wards, Medical referrals, Patient aftercare
Geographic Terms: Sweden
Abstract: Background and Aim: Fear of childbirth is a common problem that affects women's health and wellbeing. A variety of interventions have been used in research and clinical settings, but it remains unclear how interventions should be designed to be as effective and acceptable as possible. Additionally, the experiences of psychologists working to support women fearing childbirth are sparsely documented and therefore unavailable for researchers and clinicians. This qualitative study aimed to bridge this gap by exploring and describing the experiences of perinatal psychologists working clinically with women suffering from fear of childbirth. Methods: Focus group interviews with eleven psychologists, analysed with reflexive thematic analysis with an inductive and semantic approach. Results: We identified four main themes, with three to four subthemes each. It was described as essential to meet the woman where she stands: to listen, validate, explore, and tailor interventions. Depending on the needs of each woman, the psychologists had a smorgasbord of core interventions to offer. They also described how they could help the woman and her partner or support person to prepare for childbirth. Finally, they addressed the importance of multiprofessional engagement and cooperation. A list of recommendations based on the findings is presented. Conclusion: The findings add to the existing literature on how to treat and support women with fear of childbirth and should be considered as one of many sources of information guiding the development of future interventions, care strategies, and clinical pathways for women fearing childbirth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Reproductive & Infant Psychology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
Full text is not displayed to guests.
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 1
Header DbId: pbh
DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
An: 193858065
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Psychologists' experiences of working with fear of childbirth: implications and advice for care providers.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rondung%2C+Elisabet%22">Rondung, Elisabet</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lier%2C+Emma%22">Lier, Emma</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ternström%2C+Elin%22">Ternström, Elin</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Reproductive+%26+Infant+Psychology%22">Journal of Reproductive & Infant Psychology</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 44 Issue 3, p718-732. 15p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Treatment+of+emotional+trauma%22">Treatment of emotional trauma</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Work%22">Work</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Phobias%22">Phobias</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sexual+partners%22">Sexual partners</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cesarean+section%22">Cesarean section</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Documentation%22">Documentation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychologists%22">Psychologists</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Focus+groups%22">Focus groups</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Qualitative+research%22">Qualitative research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interprofessional+relations%22">Interprofessional relations</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interviewing%22">Interviewing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Respiration%22">Respiration</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+services%22">Social services</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Listening%22">Listening</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychoeducation%22">Psychoeducation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Problem+solving%22">Problem solving</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Uncertainty%22">Uncertainty</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thematic+analysis%22">Thematic analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Need+%28Psychology%29%22">Need (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Medical+records%22">Medical records</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Medical+appointments%22">Medical appointments</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Communication%22">Communication</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Data+analysis+software%22">Data analysis software</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Needs+assessment%22">Needs assessment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cognitive+therapy%22">Cognitive therapy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Imagination%22">Imagination</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Counseling%22">Counseling</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Experiential+learning%22">Experiential learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Childbirth%22">Childbirth</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Video+recording%22">Video recording</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Patients'+attitudes%22">Patients' attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Relaxation+for+health%22">Relaxation for health</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hospital+wards%22">Hospital wards</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Medical+referrals%22">Medical referrals</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Patient+aftercare%22">Patient aftercare</searchLink>
– Name: SubjectGeographic
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sweden%22">Sweden</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Background and Aim: Fear of childbirth is a common problem that affects women's health and wellbeing. A variety of interventions have been used in research and clinical settings, but it remains unclear how interventions should be designed to be as effective and acceptable as possible. Additionally, the experiences of psychologists working to support women fearing childbirth are sparsely documented and therefore unavailable for researchers and clinicians. This qualitative study aimed to bridge this gap by exploring and describing the experiences of perinatal psychologists working clinically with women suffering from fear of childbirth. Methods: Focus group interviews with eleven psychologists, analysed with reflexive thematic analysis with an inductive and semantic approach. Results: We identified four main themes, with three to four subthemes each. It was described as essential to meet the woman where she stands: to listen, validate, explore, and tailor interventions. Depending on the needs of each woman, the psychologists had a smorgasbord of core interventions to offer. They also described how they could help the woman and her partner or support person to prepare for childbirth. Finally, they addressed the importance of multiprofessional engagement and cooperation. A list of recommendations based on the findings is presented. Conclusion: The findings add to the existing literature on how to treat and support women with fear of childbirth and should be considered as one of many sources of information guiding the development of future interventions, care strategies, and clinical pathways for women fearing childbirth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Reproductive & Infant Psychology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=193858065
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/02646838.2024.2415106
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 15
        StartPage: 718
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Treatment of emotional trauma
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Work
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Phobias
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sexual partners
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cesarean section
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Documentation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychologists
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Focus groups
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Qualitative research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Interprofessional relations
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Interviewing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Respiration
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social services
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Listening
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychoeducation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Problem solving
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Uncertainty
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Thematic analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Need (Psychology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Medical records
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Medical appointments
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Communication
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Data analysis software
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Needs assessment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cognitive therapy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Imagination
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Counseling
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Experiential learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Childbirth
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Video recording
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Patients' attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Relaxation for health
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Hospital wards
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Medical referrals
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Patient aftercare
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sweden
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Psychologists' experiences of working with fear of childbirth: implications and advice for care providers.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Rondung, Elisabet
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Lier, Emma
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Ternström, Elin
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 06
              Text: Jun2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 02646838
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 44
            – Type: issue
              Value: 3
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Journal of Reproductive & Infant Psychology
              Type: main
ResultId 1