Research in Clinical Psychology and Counseling

Research in Clinical Psychology and Counseling

The Effectiveness of Compassion-Focused Therapy on Childbirth Self-Efficacy, Anxiety, and Sexual satisfaction in Pregnant Women with Pregnancy-Related Anxiety

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Fatemeh Askari Dolat abadi 1
Azadeh choobforoushzadeh 2
Mohammad Hosein Barkhordary dashtkhaki 3
1 M.A.Student in General psychology, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Science, Ardakan University, Yazd, Ardakan, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Ardakan University, Ardakan, Iran.
3 MA. Student in Rehabilitation Counseling, Department of Counseling, Ardakan University, Ardakan, Iran.
10.22067/tpccp.2025.93403.1783
Abstract
Introduction
Pregnancy is a delicate period accompanied by substantial physiological and psychological transformations, which can result in the onset of anxiety disorders (Viswasam et al., 2019; Hadfield et al., 2022). The selection of pregnant women with anxiety as the target population is imperative due to the elevated vulnerability of this demographic to the adverse consequences of anxiety and the paramount importance of maternal and fetal mental health. Pregnancy anxiety has been demonstrated to exert a detrimental influence on the daily lives of affected individuals, their social relationships, andand maternal and child mental health, potentially culminating in adverse outcomes such as preterm birth and low birth weight (Chandra et al., 2020; Becker et al., 2021). Furthermore, sexual satisfaction and childbirth self-efficacy have been identified as pivotal factors in mental health and a positive pregnancy experience, which can be influenced by anxiety (Gagné et al., 2021; Shoja et al., 2020). Psychological interventions, particularly compassion-focused therapy, have been shown to be efficacious in reducing pregnancy anxiety and enhancing sexual satisfaction and childbirth self-efficacy (Kolts et al., 2018; Abbaszadeh et al., 2023). The present study aims to investigate the effects of compassion-focused therapy on reducing pregnancy anxiety, increasing childbirth self-efficacy, and promoting sexual satisfaction in anxious pregnant women, thereby determining the role of this psychological intervention in improving maternal mental health. This objective is of particular importance due to the recognized benefits of reducing anxiety and improving psychological indicators during pregnancy.
 
Method
The present quasi-experimental study was conducted with a pretest-posttest design and a control group. The statistical population comprised pregnant women who sought medical attention at health centers in Rafsanjan city and were subsequently divided into two groups of 20 subjects. These subjects were assigned to either an intervention group, which underwent eight 90-minute sessions of compassion-focused therapy grounded in the Gilbert model, or a control group. The inclusion criteria encompassed the following: subjects had to be in the second trimester of pregnancy, literate, and not diagnosed with any psychological disorders. Informed consent was also a prerequisite for participation. The data were collected using the following instruments: the Childbirth Self-Efficacy Inventory (Lowe & Anderson, 2000), the Pregnancy Related Anxiety Questionnaire (Van den Bergh, 1989), and the Index of Sexual Satisfaction (Hudson et al., 1981). After confirming the reliability and validity of the instruments, the data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods and analysis of covariance.
 
Findings
The results of univariate analysis of covariance demonstrated that compassion-focused therapy significantly increased childbirth self-efficacy (F=48.748, p<0.001), reduced pregnancy anxiety (F=8.552, p=0.006), and improved sexual satisfaction (F=17.761, p<0.001) in pregnant women. The post-test scores of the experimental group were significantly higher (in self-efficacy and sexual satisfaction) and lower (in pregnancy anxiety) than the pre-test and control group scores, confirming the positive effect of the intervention. Furthermore, the findings of the subsequent phase indicated that the impact of the intervention persisted over time. The efficacy of compassion-focused therapy on childbirth self-efficacy (F=46.123, p<0.001), pregnancy anxiety (F=7.994, p=0.008), and sexual satisfaction (F=16.872, p<0.001) was sustained until the follow-up stage. These findings suggest that compassion-focused therapy exerts a statistically significant and enduring effect on enhancing childbirth self-efficacy, mitigating pregnancy anxiety, and augmenting sexual satisfaction in pregnant women. The findings further indicate that compassion-focused therapy can be utilized as an efficacious approach to enhance mental health and quality of life during pregnancy.
 
Discussion
The findings of the study indicated that compassion-focused therapy led to a significant enhancement in childbirth self-efficacy, a reduction in pregnancy anxiety, and an improvement in sexual satisfaction among anxious pregnant women. These findings are consistent with those reported in several studies (Jafari et al., 2024; Heydari et al., 2023; Abbaszadeh et al., 2023; Safarinia et al., 2021; Hasani et al., 2021; Amiri Rad et al., 2020; Sauer, 2023; Erbil, 2022; Samios et al., 2021). The present study's findings align with extant research on the efficacy of interventions to enhance childbirth self-efficacy (Erbil, 2022; Samios et al., 2021; Hosseinimehr et al., 2021; Ebrahimifar et al., 2019). Similarly, the results of the present study are consistent with the findings of research on the efficacy of interventions to reduce pregnancy anxiety (Abbaszadeh et al., 2023; Sauer, 2023; Gilbert & Procter, 2006; Penlington, 2019; Monteiro et al., 2019; Hadi Ghanavat, 2019). Furthermore, the present study's findings are consistent with the findings of research on the efficacy of interventions to promote sexual satisfaction (Safarinia et al., 2021; Hasani et al., 2021; Amiri Rad et al., 2020). Compassion-focused therapy has been demonstrated to enhance women's belief in their ability to manage childbirth, reduce anxiety, and improve sexual satisfaction. This effect is achieved by strengthening self-compassion, reducing self-criticism, increasing emotional acceptance, and fostering psychological security. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated to enhance their resilience to the pressures associated with pregnancy by exerting a positive influence on cognitive and emotional mechanisms. The implementation of compassion-focused therapy as a complementary mental health program alongside routine prenatal education in health and medical centers is suggested in order to improve the pregnancy experience, preparation for childbirth, and quality of life of couples.
Keywords
Pregnancy anxiety
pregnancy
childbirth self-efficacy
sexual satisfaction
compassion-focused therapy
Subjects

 Authors retain the copyright and full publishing rights. This is an open access article distributed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0)

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Research in Clinical Psychology and Counseling
Volume 15, Issue 2 - Serial Number 30
December 2025
Pages 128-149

  • Receive Date 19 May 2025
  • Revise Date 05 August 2025
  • Accept Date 08 November 2025