RELATIONSHIP OF PERSONALITY TRAITS AND PREGNANCY ATTITUDES TO CHOICE OF CHILDBIRTH METHOD IN FIRST PREGNANCY COUPLES
Abstract
During early pregnancy couples are offered a critical choice. In the prepared childbirth method (PCM) training, both will be active participants in the birth process. In the anesthetized childbirth method (ACM), the wife will be medicated at the beginning of active labor, and will sleep throughout the birth process. The husband would not be present in the delivery room. For first pregnancy couples, this choice is voluntary and not influenced by previous childbirth experience. It is hypothesized that differences in the expectant parents' Self Concept, Locus of Control and Attitudes Towards Pregnancy influence their choice. Self Concept was measured by the Jackson Personality Inventory (JPI), Locus of Control was measured by the Rotter Scale of Internal-External Control, and Attitudes Towards Pregnancy score was obtained from the HIP Pregnancy Questionnaire. Sixty-four couples in early first pregnancy, were interviewed and tested. They were all white, middle-class Americans, residing in Long Island, and under the care of eight obstetricians. Thirty-seven couples chose the PCM, and 27 the ACM. The hypotheses that no differences exist between the PCM and the ACM groups on Self Concept, Locus of Control, and Attitudes Towards Pregnancy was rejected. It was concluded that the PCM group possessed a more positive Self Concept, greater Internal Locus of Control, and more favorable Attitudes Towards Pregnancy. Of the four groups, the ACM husbands were distinguished by their low Self Esteem, low Complexity, and low Desire for Pregnancy, but they scored high on Risk Taking. It is suggested that the personality characteristics of the ACM husbands are critically influential in the choice of childbirth method in the ACM couples.
Subject Area
Health education
Recommended Citation
WEISS, NITZA, "RELATIONSHIP OF PERSONALITY TRAITS AND PREGNANCY ATTITUDES TO CHOICE OF CHILDBIRTH METHOD IN FIRST PREGNANCY COUPLES" (1983). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI8326192.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI8326192
