Effects of modeling and information on reactions to pain: a childbirth-preparation analogue

p6labor-preparation analogue study was conducted to examine the efficacy of videotaped information and modeling as pain-reducing techniques for women during labor and delivery. Sixty nulliparous college female undergraduates were randomly assigned to four treatment conditions: (a) videotaped modeling; (b) videotaped information; (c) videotaped information and modeling combined; and (d) control (irrelevant) videotape. Assessments of the effectiveness of these treatments were made during a one-hour session involving 20 80-second exposures to the Forgione-Barber pain stimulator. The timing and sequencing of the pain stimulus was patterned to resemble labor contractions. Dependent variables included self-reported pain, heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, frontalis electromyogram, and respiratory rate. The group that received information and modeling combined reported significantly lower pain ratings than each of the other three groups. Analyses conducted on the physiological dependent variables failed to demonstrate significant treatment effects. The implications of these findings are discussed from the perspective of developing more effective methods of preparing women for the experience of childbirth.