Abstract:
Background: It is emphasized that fear of childbirth is closely related to women’s personality characteristics,
anxiety levels, low self-esteem, low socialization, neuroticism, low extraversion, vulnerability.
Objective: The study was conducted to determine the relationship between personality traits and fear of
childbirth.
Methods: This was a descriptive study. The study was carried out at the obstetrics policlinic of the research and
training hospital. A sample of 853 women at the third trimester of their pregnancies completed the questionnaire.
Data were collected using Questionnaire Form, Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Scale A version, Eysenck
Personality Questionnaire-Revised/Abbreviated Form.
Results: The median neuroticism score was 2.00 among those on a mild level of fear of childbirth, while it was
4.00 among those on a clinical level of fear of childbirth (p < 0.001). The median extraversion score of the
pregnant women was 4.00 among those whose fear of childbirth scores were on a mild level, while it was 2.00
among those whose fear of childbirth scores were on a clinical level (p < 0.001). There was a positive correlation
between the scores of fear of childbirth and the neuroticism, and a negative correlation between fear of childbirth
and extraversion personality trait (p < 0.001).
Conclusions: It was concluded that pregnant women who had neuroticism personality demonstrated a higher level
of fear of childbirth whereas those who had extraversion personality demonstrated a lower level of fear of
childbirth
