Does self-compassion positively relate to birth experience?
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Does women’s self-compassion positively relate to their first time birth experience?
IRAS ID
178552
Contact name
Gayle Watts
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 1 days
Research summary
The current study will explore the link between self-compassion and how women perceive the experience of giving birth for the first time. The following research questions will be addressed:
•Is there a positive correlation between women’s self-compassion and how they perceive their first time birth experience?
•Is there a positive correlation between women’s self-compassion and a positive perception of care?Previous research suggests that a negative birth experience can lead to women being more likely to develop symptoms of PTSD. It can also impact on the mother's future behaviour, for example women who have a negative birth experience are less likely to go on to have more children. A positive birth experience has been linked to promoting a good bond between a mother and her infant. It is therefore important that we understand the different factors that can influence a woman's appraisal of her birth experience.
Self-compassion has been shown to impact on how people deal with challenges. Individuals with high self-compassion tend to be less self-blaming and are less likely to develop depressive symptoms following a stressful life event. We therefore predict that women with high self-compassion will be more likely to appraise their birth experience positively as they are protected against self-blame and are more likely to exhibit self-kindness in times of stress. Self-compassion also affects our ability to receive compassion from others. We therefore predict that women with high self-compassion will rate the care they received during delivery as more positive and compassionate.
Participants will be women who have given birth at Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital. They will be invited to take part in the research after the delivery, prior to discharge. Participants will be asked to complete three questionnaires which focus on self-compassion, birth experience and perception of care. The study is expected to be complete in April 2016.
REC name
North East - Tyne & Wear South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/NE/0307
Date of REC Opinion
28 Oct 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion