Personality Characteristics of Women of Reproductive Age and Fear of Childbirth

Authors : Nuran Nur Aypar Akbağ, Ayşegül Eroğlu, Özlem Güner
Pages : 358-368
Doi:10.21763/tjfmpc.1683108
View : 226 | Download : 360
Publication Date : 2025-12-08
Article Type : Research Paper
Abstract :Introduction: Women’s reproductive years affect their personal and societal lives. Childbirth, one of the most significant events of this age, is biological, psychological, social, and cultural. Objective: This study aimed to determine the relationship between personality traits, demographic variables, obstetric characteristics, and fear of childbirth in women of reproductive age. Method: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted online with 394 women of reproductive age between May and November 2024. Data were collected using the \\\"Personal Information Form\\\", \\\"Cervantes Personality Scale (CPS)\\\", and \\\"Childbirth Fear Scale (CFS)\\\". Descriptive statistics, Mann–Whitney U test, the Kruskal–Wallis test, and Spearman’s correlation test were used to analyze the data. Results: Mean sub‑dimension scores on the Cervantes Personality Scale were 11.57 ± 3.49 for Extraversion/Introversion, 28.65 ± 7.52 for Emotional Stability/Instability, and –6.92 ± 7.66 for Consistency/Inconsistency. The overall mean score on the Childbirth Fear Scale (CFS) was 51.67 ± 8.40. Age, educational level, place of residence, marital status, employment status, income, and family type significantly influenced the subdimension scores of the Childbirth Fear Scale. Regarding obstetric variables, having children, birth preference, number of pregnancies, and number of miscarriages/curettages were found to exert significant effects on fear of childbirth. Conclusion: Pregnant women who were neurotic or exhibited inconsistent personality traits experienced higher levels of fear of childbirth. Women characterized by neurotic and inconsistent personalities should therefore be assessed more carefully with respect to fear of childbirth.
Keywords : Doğum korkusu, kişilik özellikleri, kadın

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