Mindfulness Psychoeducation Based on Transtheoretical Model for Fear of Childbirth

Childbirth is a significant life event with important physical and psychological effectson pregnant women. Due to uncertainty during pregnancy, many women experience fear ofchildbirth. Fear of childbirth is a common condition that may negatively affect maternalwell‐being. Therefore, various psychosocial interventions have been developed to reducethis condition. Mindfulness‐based approaches and psychoeducation programs are consideredeffective methods for reducing stress, anxiety, and fear by promoting non‐judgmentalawareness of the present moment.This study is designed as a randomized controlled experimental trial. The studypopulation will consist of pregnant women attending the Obstetrics and GynecologyOutpatient Clinic of Niğde Ömer Halisdemir Training and Research Hospital who meet theinclusion criteria. The sample size was calculated using G*Power 3.1.9.7 software. Basedon an effect size of f = 0.38, 80% statistical power, and a 5% significance level, aminimum of 30 participants was required. Considering a 20% potential dropout rate, atotal of 72 pregnant women (36 intervention and 36 control) will be included in thestudy.The inclusion criteria are being between 18 and 40 years of age, having a firstpregnancy, being between 20 and 34 weeks of gestation, having a singleton and healthypregnancy, being able to communicate in Turkish, and scoring 38 or higher on the WijmaDelivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (Version A). Women with high‐riskpregnancies, a history of psychiatric disorders, illiteracy, communication problems, orunwillingness to participate will be excluded. Withdrawal during the study, developmentof pregnancy complications, or inability to continue the intervention will be consideredexclusion criteria.Data will be collected using a Sociodemographic Information Form, the Wijma DeliveryExpectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W‐DEQ A), the Self‐Perception Scale for PregnantWomen, and the Spiritual Well‐Being Scale. The W‐DEQ A measures fear of childbirth, theSelf‐Perception Scale assesses maternal and body perception during pregnancy, and theSpiritual Well‐Being Scale evaluates the level of spiritual well‐being.At the beginning of the study, eligible participants will be informed about the researchand written informed consent will be obtained. Data collection forms will first beadministered face‐to‐face. Pregnant women scoring 38 or above on the W‐DEQ A will then berandomly assigned to intervention and control groups using a computer‐based randomizationmethod (randomizer.org).The intervention group will receive a mindfulness‐based psychoeducation program adaptedaccording to the Transtheoretical Model. The intervention will be delivered in groupsessions of 6‐10 participants, twice a week for 4 weeks, with each session lastingapproximately 45‐60 minutes. The program includes psychoeducation about pregnancy andchildbirth, mindfulness exercises, emotional awareness activities, and coping strategiesfor fear of childbirth.The control group will receive routine obstetric care only. Post‐intervention assessmentswill be conducted in both groups using the same measurement tools.Data analysis will be performed using SPSS version 25.0. Descriptive statistics will becalculated, and depending on data distribution, independent samples t‐test, pairedsamples t‐test, ANOVA, Mann‐Whitney U test, Kruskal‐Wallis test, and chi‐square test willbe used. The level of statistical significance will be set at p < 0.05.The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of a mindfulness‐based psychoeducationintervention based on the Transtheoretical Model on fear of childbirth, self‐perception,and spiritual well‐being in pregnant women experiencing fear of childbirth.