Association Between Spiritual Health, Fear of Childbirth, and Self-Efficacy in Iranian Primiparous Women.

This study aimed to explore the correlation among religious well-being, childbirth self-efficacy, and fear of childbirth in primiparous women. This cross-sectional study involved 240 low-risk primiparous women admitted to teaching hospitals in Ahvaz, Southwest Iran, using a convenience sampling method. Data were collected using various tools, such as the demographic questionnaire, Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire, Paloutzian and Ellison Spiritual Well-Being Scale, and Lowe Childbirth Self-Efficacy Inventory. The data were analyzed using the Spearman correlation coefficient, linear regression model, Mann-Whitney, and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS-26 and Stata 17. The results indicated the results show significant effects on fear of childbirth for religious well-being (Beta = - 0.55, P < 0.001) and childbirth self-efficacy (Beta = - 0.13, P < 0.001). According to the result of SEM, religious well-being has a moderate negative direct effect on fear of childbirth (Standard Beta = - 0.42, P = 0.002) and childbirth self-efficacy has a partial mediation role in the relationship between religious well-being and fear of childbirth. The results of this study suggest that religious well-being and childbirth self-efficacy may be regarded as factors in alleviating childbirth fear.