The Effect of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Self-Efficacy in Adopting to Normal Delivery: Based on an Interventional Study

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Research Article

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Midwifery and Reproductive Health Department of Tehran University of Medical Sciences

10.22038/jmrh.2025.78195.2333

Abstract

Background & aim: Fear of childbirth and lack of adaptation to it increases the demand for cesarean delivery by women. A large number of mothers, despite having high levels of physical fitness and executive skills, have inadequate self-efficacy in choosing or performing a normal delivery. This study aimed to investigate the effect of cognitive behavioral therapy on self-efficacy in adopting normal delivery: based on an interventional study.
Methods:   In this semi-experimental study with two groups (intervention and control with non-randomized sampling), 80 pregnant women referred to Kamali Hospital and Karaj health centers affiliated with Alborz University of Medical Sciences were included in the study. The cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) group received routine pregnancy care and 5 sessions of 90-minute (once a week) CBT training. The control group received only routine pregnancy care. Both groups completed the Louie self-efficacy questionnaire before and after of the intervention, and their type of delivery was determined over the phone. The internal validity of this questionnaire obtained 0.93 and 0.96. Reliability was reported between 0.84 and 0.94 and, it was approved. The data was analyzed by SPSS statistical software version 25.
Results: The average self-efficacy of childbirth increased by 2.14 points after the intervention compared to before in the intervention group, which indicated the effectiveness of the cognitive therapy intervention (p<0.001). The mean self-efficacy of childbirth after the intervention in the control group was the same as before (p>0/05). The total effect of cognitive therapy intervention was 0.379.
Conclusion: The results of this research confirmed the effectiveness and efficiency of cognitive therapy in increasing the self-efficacy of pregnant women in adapting to normal delivery. Therefore, using this intervention is suggested as an effective method to prepare for childbirth.

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Journal of Midwifery and Reproductive Health

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 27 January 2026

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