The Effect of Self-Compassion Based Birth Preparation Program

Primary outcomes

1. The Effect of Self-Compassion Based Birth Preparation Program on Self-Compassion, Body Image, Fear of Childbirth, Depression, Anxiety and Stress in Pregnant Women

   Time frame: from june 2025 to june 2026

   This study aims to determine the effects of a self-compassion-based birth preparation program on self-compassion, body image, fear of childbirth, depression, anxiety and stress in pregnant women

2. Personal Information Form

   Time frame: In the 28th week of pregnancy

   Developed by the researchers based on literature, the form consists of questions regarding the socio-demographic and obstetric characteristics of pregnant women, such as their age, educational status, employment status, chronic disease status, number of pregnancies, gestational age, and number of children.

3. Self-Compassion Scale Short Form

   Time frame: At 28 weeks of pregnancy, after completing the program (4 weeks later) 1st month postpartum 3rd month postpartum

   The Self-Compassion Scale Short Form, developed by Raes et al. (2011), is used to measure an individual's level of self-compassion. The scale was adapted into Turkish by Yıldırım and Sarı (2018). The single-dimension scale consists of 11 items and a 5-point Likert-type scale. High scores indicate high levels of self-compassion. The lowest possible score is 11, and the highest is 55. There is no cut-off score for the scale

4. Pregnancy Body Image Scale

   Time frame: At 28 weeks of pregnancy, after completing the program (4 weeks later)

   The Pregnancy Body Image Scale was developed by Watson et al. (2017) and adapted into Turkish by Gün Kakaşçı et al. (2022). As the total score on the scale increases, the perception of negative body image in pregnant women increases. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the entire scale was 0.90 and ranged from 0.65 to 0.94 for its subscales

5. Wijma Childbirth Expectation/Experience Scale Version A

   Time frame: At 28 weeks of pregnancy, after completing the program (4 weeks later)

   This six-point Likert-type scale, consisting of 33 items covering childbirth-related fears, is scored from 0 to 5, with 0 being interpreted as completely and 5 being interpreted as not at all. The minimum score on the W-DEQ-A is 0, and the maximum score is 165. As women's scale scores increase, their fear of childbirth increases. W-DEQ-A scores are graded into four groups: mild fear of childbirth (W-DEQ-A score ≤37), moderate fear of childbirth (W-DEQ-A scores between 38 and 65), severe fear of childbirth (W-DEQ-A scores between 66 and 84), and clinical fear of childbirth (W-DEQ-A scores ≥85.

6. Wijma Childbirth Expectation/Experience Scale Version B

   Time frame: first 24 hours after birth

   The Wijma Childbirth Expectation/Experience Scale Version B (W-DEQ-B) was developed by Wijma et al. (1998) to measure the fear of childbirth experienced by women after childbirth. The scale consists of 32 items. Responses are numbered from 0 to 5 and are a six-point Likert-type scale. 0 represents "completely," and 5 represents "not at all." The minimum score on the scale is 0, while the maximum score is 160.

7. Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21

   Time frame: In the 28th week of pregnancy, After completing the program (4 weeks), 1st month postpartum, 3rd month postpartum

   The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 was developed by Lovibond and Lovibond (1995), and its Turkish validity and reliability study was conducted by Sarıçam (2018). The scale consists of 21 items, with 7 items each in the depression, anxiety, and stress subscales. It assesses depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms in the past week on a four-point scale from (0) never to (3) always. A score of 5 or higher on the depression subscale, 4 or higher on the anxiety subscale, and 8 or higher on the stress subscale indicates a relevant problem.