Anxiety, Fear, and Self-Efficacy in Pregnant Women in the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant challenges and uncertainty for expectant mothers. The current study examined anxiety, fear of childbirth, and childbirth self-efficacy in pregnant women, and investigated whether greater expected changes to previous birthing plans related to higher rates of negative emotions. The current study included 104 pregnant women currently living in the United States. Participants reported high levels of anxiety and fear related to both greater perceived changes to birth plans, and lowered expectations about the efficacy of coping mechanisms during childbirth, which predicted greater fear of childbirth. Psychoeducational interventions aimed at reducing anxiety and increasing childbirth self-efficacy may be particularly beneficial during this time, especially in light of continued restrictions to social support for laboring women.