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Journals / International Journal of Science Letters / 2026 / Volume: 8 Issue: 1

Exploring postpartum women’s experiences and levels of paranormal beliefs: a qualitative and descriptive perspective

Aysel Bülez(Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi)0000-0002-6871-3184
Mehtap Sönmez(KAHRAMANMARAS SUTCU IMAM UNIVERSITY)0000-0001-6975-0262
Zeynep Sünbül Kekeç(KAHRAMANMARAS SUTCU IMAM UNIVERSITY)0000-0003-4094-659X
Gül Öztürk0000-0003-3738-6552
Pages
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Publication Date
2026-09-30
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

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

Healthcare professionals should acknowledge such experiences without automatically attributing them to psychiatric pathology and provide culturally sensitive, evidence-based counselling to reduce fear and anxiety, discourage potentially harmful traditional practices, and promote maternal and infant wellbeing.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Aim: This study aimed to explore women's self-reported paranormal experiences during the postpartum period, examine the cultural meanings attributed to these experiences, and descriptively assess levels of paranormal belief using the Paranormal Beliefs Scale (PBS).
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Key Findings & Data:Forty-three postpartum women who reported paranormal or unusual visual experiences within the first 42 days after childbirth were recruited through snowball sampling.
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Conclusion & Impact:Healthcare professionals should acknowledge such experiences without automatically attributing them to psychiatric pathology and provide culturally sensitive, evidence-based counselling to reduce fear and anxiety, discourage potentially harmful traditional practices, and promote maternal and infant wellbeing.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Paranormal Belief · Cultural beliefs · Postpartum Period

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to explore women's self-reported paranormal experiences during the postpartum period, examine the cultural meanings attributed to these experiences, and descriptively assess levels of paranormal belief using the Paranormal Beliefs Scale (PBS). Methods: A convergent mixed-methods design was employed. Qualitative data were collected through face-toface, semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis. Quantitative data were collected using the PBS and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Forty-three postpartum women who reported paranormal or unusual visual experiences within the first 42 days after childbirth were recruited through snowball sampling. Results: Five themes emerged from the qualitative analysis: beliefs associated with the experiences, descriptions of perceived visual experiences, physical responses, psychological responses, and preventive practices. Participants commonly reported seeing black shadows, unfamiliar human-like figures, or animals, usually at night during transitions between wakefulness and sleep. Physical responses included immobility, palpitations, breathlessness, and sensations of suffocation, whereas psychological responses included fear, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and persistent distress. Participants also described religious, traditional, and medical coping practices. The mean PBS score was 27.6 ± 3.26. Conclusion: The findings suggest that women's interpretations of these experiences are shaped by cultural beliefs. Healthcare professionals should acknowledge such experiences without automatically attributing them to psychiatric pathology and provide culturally sensitive, evidence-based counselling to reduce fear and anxiety, discourage potentially harmful traditional practices, and promote maternal and infant wellbeing.

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Cite This Article

Bülez, A., Sönmez, M., Kekeç, Z. S., Öztürk, G. (2026). Exploring postpartum women’s experiences and levels of paranormal beliefs: a qualitative and descriptive perspective. International Journal of Science Letters, Volume: 8 Issue: 1. https://doi.org/10.38058/ijsl.1902840

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