[Personality-dependent anxiety reactions in primiparous patients]

The emotional state of the gravida shortly before childbirth has a predictive value for her comportment during parturition. We evaluated, whether the concept of defensive coping with fear (repression vs. sensitization) contributed to a better identification of patients at risk. Both repression and sensitization are inadequate attempts of warding off fear, the difference being the interpretation of the triggering situation. We interviewed 101 primiparous women during routine pregnancy check-ups between the 34th and 40th week of pregnancy. The following instruments were applied: demographic data, repression-sensitization scale, scales concerning birth preparation and fear of birth, Spielberger's STAI-X and the Giessen scale of psychosomatic complaints. Three days post partum a scale concerning the experience of birth and the STAI-X were completed. Sensitizers had a tendency to admit fears more openly in the STAI-X and to experience birth as threatening. They complained about more psychosomatic symptoms than the repressor group in the Giessen scale. Non defensive-copers were found in-between. Sensitizers showed highest levels of fear of birth. No differences between repressors, non-defensive copers and sensitizers could be found concerning demographic data like birth complications (spontaneous delivery vs. cesarean section/forceps delivery). Neither did the groups show differences concerning the attendance of birth preparation courses.