Stress and the Level of Fear of Childbirth Among Pregnant Women in Poland During the Pandemic-The Importance of a Sense of Coherence and Partner Support.

Background/Objectives: Stress experienced by pregnant women during the pandemic may be associated with an increased level of fear of childbirth. Psycho-social resources such as a sense of coherence and social support may be associated with better psychological outcomes. The aim of the study was to examine whether there is a relationship between pandemic stress, fear of childbirth, sense of coherence, and social support in pregnant women and whether pandemic stress, sense of coherence, and social support were explanatory variables for fear of childbirth. Method: The study involved 232 pregnant women. The following research methods were used in the study: the Berlin Social Support Scales (BSSS), Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-29), Labor Anxiety Questionnaire (KLP II), and Pandemic-Related Pregnancy Stress Scale (PREPS). Results: The study showed that pandemic stress is positively correlated with infection and Preparedness Stress (infection stress: r = 0.57 ***; Preparedness Stress: r = 0.34 ***). Stress and fear of childbirth are negatively related (infection stress: r = 0.33 ***; Preparedness Stress: r = 0.4 ***), and fear of childbirth is negatively associated with the sense of coherence (r = -0.33 ***) and, to a small extent, with some types of social support. The research shows that obstetric variables related to the organization of childbirth are of significant importance for the psychological functioning of women. Preparedness Stress and sense of coherence were explanatory variables for fear of childbirth in multiple linear regression analyses (F(5, 224) = 19.48; adjusted R2 = 0.29). Conclusions: The sense of coherence turned out to be a more important resource for the psychological functioning of pregnant women than social support. The lack of control over such an important event as childbirth is associated with higher stress and the inability to use resources. In clinical practice, it is important to strengthen the resources for women who experience a strong fear of childbirth.