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NCT Number: NCT07263750

Effect of Haptonomy on Prenatal Attachment and Fear of Childbirth in Primiparous Couples

This study was planned to evaluate the effect of haptonomy practice for primiparous pregnant women and their partners on prenatal attachment and fear of childbirth.

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Key information

Conditions

Fear of Childbirth Prenatal Attachment

Age range

19 year–35 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

About this study

Aim: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of haptonomy practice for primiparous pregnant women and their partners on prenatal attachment and fear of childbirth.

Methods: This randomized controlled experimental study will include primiparous pregnant women and their partners (36 couples in the experimental group and 36 couples in the control group) who apply to the childbirth education class of a public hospital in Turkey and are between 24-26 weeks of gestation.

The experimental group will receive haptonomy education in the childbirth class. Afterwards, a video-based haptonomy program will be delivered via e-mail or WhatsApp. Couples will be asked to perform haptonomy exercises once a week for 40 minutes over five weeks. No intervention will be applied to the control group.

Data will be collected before the intervention and at the end of the fifth week using the Personal Information Form, Prenatal Attachment Inventory (PAI), Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire Version A (W-DEQ A), Paternal-Fetal Attachment Scale (PFAS), and Fathers' Fear of Childbirth Scale (FFOC).

Data analysis will include frequency and percentage distributions, chi-square test, t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, repeated measures analysis, two-way ANOVA, Friedman test, and Cohen's d test.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • • At least a primary school graduate
  • Between the 24th and 26th weeks of pregnancy
  • According to calculations made by ultrasound based on the last menstrual period or, for pregnant women who do not know their last menstrual period, between the 24th and 26th weeks of pregnancy
  • Primiparous
  • No history of abortion/curettage
  • Planned/desired pregnancy
  • Desired baby gender
  • Living with spouse
  • Attended pregnancy classes
  • Able to use technology such as computers and mobile phones to watch videos
  • No barriers to understanding questions and responding
  • No previous training on fear of childbirth or prenatal bonding
  • Not having previously received education on haptonomy or practised haptonomy
  • Not undergoing infertility treatment
  • Being between the ages of 19 and 35

Exclusion criteria

  • • Be at least 26 weeks pregnant
  • Live separately from spouse
  • Have an unplanned/unwanted pregnancy
  • Not want the baby to be of a specific gender
  • Not use technology
  • Be a high-risk pregnancy
  • Have previously received training on fear of childbirth and prenatal bonding
  • Having previously received training in haptonomy and practised haptonomy
  • Deciding to discontinue haptonomy practice after the study began and/or giving birth prematurely before completing the practice sessions

Treatment and study plan

Haptonomy

Behavioral

Since there are no studies in the literature evaluating the effect of planned video modelling haptonomy on prenatal bonding and fear of childbirth in expectant mothers and fathers, it is believed that the results obtained from this study will contribute significantly to the literature by guiding and shedding light on future studies.

Other names: Haptonomy, as a field dealing with emotional contact through touch, describe the relationship between parents and the unborn baby.

Primary outcomes

  1. Prenatal Attachment Inventory (PAI)

    Time frame: Baseline

    The PAI is a validated, explain thoughts, feelings, and situations experienced by woman during pregnancy and to determine the level of attachment to infant in prenatal period. Each item is of a four-point Likert type, with a score between 1 and 4. A minimum score of 21 and a maximum score of 84 can be obtained from the scale. Increase in the score obtained by pregnant indicates that level of attachment also increases.

  2. Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire version A (W-DEQ-A)

    Time frame: Baseline

    The W-DEQ-A is a validated,to determine the level of birth fear experienced by pregnant women.Answers in the scale are numbered from 0 to 5 and are in a six-point Likert type. The minimum score that can be obtained from the scale is 0, and the maximum score is 165.

  3. Paternal-Fetal Attachment Scale (PFAS)

    Time frame: Baseline

    PFAS is a validated scale used to determine the level of paternal-fetal attachment. The responses are rated on a four-point Likert scale ranging from 1 to 4. The minimum possible total score is 23, and the maximum is 92.

  4. Fathers' Fear of Childbirth Scale (FFOC)

    Time frame: Baseline

    The FFOC is a validated instrument used to determine fathers' level of fear related to childbirth. The responses are rated on a five-point Likert scale ranging from 1 to 5. The minimum possible total score is 17, and the maximum is 85.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Prenatal Attachment Inventory (PAI)

    Time frame: Week 5

    The PAI is a validated, explain thoughts, feelings, and situations experienced by woman during pregnancy and to determine the level of attachment to infant in prenatal period. Each item is of a four-point Likert type, with a score between 1 and 4. A minimum score of 21 and a maximum score of 84 can be obtained from the scale. Increase in the score obtained by pregnant indicates that level of attachment also increases.

  2. Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire version A (W-DEQ-A)

    Time frame: Week 5

    The W-DEQ-A is a validated,to determine the level of birth fear experienced by pregnant women.Answers in the scale are numbered from 0 to 5 and are in a six-point Likert type. The minimum score that can be obtained from the scale is 0, and the maximum score is 165.

  3. Paternal-Fetal Attachment Scale (PFAS)

    Time frame: Week 5

    PFAS is a validated scale used to determine the level of paternal-fetal attachment. The responses are rated on a four-point Likert scale ranging from 1 to 4. The minimum possible total score is 23, and the maximum is 92.

  4. Fathers' Fear of Childbirth Scale (FFOC)

    Time frame: Week 5

    The FFOC is a validated instrument used to determine fathers' level of fear related to childbirth. The responses are rated on a five-point Likert scale ranging from 1 to 5. The minimum possible total score is 17, and the maximum is 85.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Nilüfer Tuğut, Prof. Dr.

CONTACT

[email protected]

+0905327754828

sibel dilmen, lectuer

CONTACT

[email protected]

+905532628295

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Nigde Omer Halisdemir University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of Haptonomy Application for Primiparous Pregnant Women and Their Partners on Prenatal Attachment and Fear of Childbirth: A Randomized Controlled Study

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Dec 4, 2025
Registry last updated
Feb 3, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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