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Journals / Balıkesir Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi / 2026 / Volume: 13 Issue: 2

The Relationship Between Physical Activity Level and Fear of Childbirth (Tokophobia) in Pregnant Women: A Cross-Sectional Study

Zeynep Yıldız Kızkın(ARTVIN CORUH UNIVERSITY, ARTVİN VOCATIONAL SCHOOL, THERAPY AND REHABILITATION)0000-0002-2510-5410
Ali Ömer Acar(ACIBADEM ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0001-5496-9472
Masoud Amır Rashedı Bonab(MARMARA ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-7875-0499
Yusuf Hasırcı(MARMARA ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0001-7514-5843
Zubeyir Sarı(MARMARA ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0003-1643-5415
Pages
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Publication Date
2024-08-28
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Conclusion: It was determined that the physical activity levels of the pregnant women decrease as the trimester of pregnancy progress, and the level of physical activity decreased as tokophobia increased.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between physical activity level and tokophobia in pregnant women.
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Key Findings & Data:Materials and Methods: 81 healthy pregnant women on 14-40 weeks of gestation were included in the study.
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Conclusion & Impact:Conclusion: It was determined that the physical activity levels of the pregnant women decrease as the trimester of pregnancy progress, and the level of physical activity decreased as tokophobia increased.
🔬Design:Survey & Empirical Study
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Pregnancy · Exercise · Phobia

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between physical activity level and tokophobia in pregnant women. Materials and Methods: 81 healthy pregnant women on 14-40 weeks of gestation were included in the study. The participant’s physical activity levels were measured using the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ), and their tokophobia was evaluated using the WIJMA Delivery Expectation/Experience Scale (W-DEQ). The W-DEQ results are divided into four subgroups: low fear of childbirth (W-DEQ score ≤ 37) moderate fear of childbirth (W-DEQ score between 38 and 65) severe fear of childbirth (W-DEQ score 66 -84) and clinical fear of childbirth (W-DEQ score ≥ 85). Results: We found a low level of tokophobia in participants (W-DEQ 3.57±36.19). Low-intensity physical activity decreased in the third trimester (78.82±40.88 MET-min/week) compared to the second trimester (120.10±54.80 MET-min/week) (p=0.001). Housework/care activities decreased in the third trimester (105.81±56.09 MET-min/week) compared to the second trimester (162.08±98.08 MET-min/week) (p=0.023). Low-tokophobia pregnant women (141.54 MET-min/week) were more active than moderate-tokophobia pregnant women (73.01MET-min/week) (p=0.026). There was a moderately strong negative correlation between the total W-DEQ score and the total PPAQ score (r=-0.431; p<0.001). Conclusion: It was determined that the physical activity levels of the pregnant women decrease as the trimester of pregnancy progress, and the level of physical activity decreased as tokophobia increased.

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Cite This Article

Kızkın, Z. Y., Acar, A. Ö., Bonab, M. A. R., Hasırcı, Y., Sarı, Z. (2024). The Relationship Between Physical Activity Level and Fear of Childbirth (Tokophobia) in Pregnant Women: A Cross-Sectional Study. Balıkesir Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, Volume: 13 Issue: 2. https://doi.org/10.53424/balikesirsbd.1343488

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