The evaluation of fear about childbirth: The W-DEQ factor structure in an Italian sample

Background: to feel fearful about childbirth is a common phenomenon for pregnant women, but it could have important consequences for the womens’health (Wijma et al., 1997; 2002). The primary aim of this study are to explore factor structure of Wijma Delivery Expectancy Questionnaire (W-DEQ)in an Italian sample of pregnant women, to verify if fear and its subscales correlates with lack of social support and a poor relationship with partner and to verify if fear can predict mode of delivery. Method: 200 Italian pregnant women answered the W-DEQ, the Dyadic Adjustment Scale, the Social Support Scale and a schedule about delivery at time 1 (7th month of pregnancy) and time 2 (1 month after delivery). Results: Fear of childbirth negatively correlates with dyadic adjustment and support offered by partner, and women’s mother and father. Earlier analysis reveal one-factor structure of W-DEQ. Fear effects on mode of delivery had to be explored.