Relationship of psychosocial and perinatal variables to perception of childbirth.

This study reported on a sample of 294 first-time mothers. Fifty-six women who delivered by cesarean birth perceived their childbirth experience more negatively than those who delivered vaginally. However, the type of delivery accounted for only 1% of the variance when entered with 24 other psychosocial and obstetrical variables for stepwise multiple regression analysis. Mate emotional support contributed 20% and early maternal-infant interaction contributed 9.8% of the variance, with total positive self-concept, fewer medical complications, informative support, instrumental support, and type of delivery accounting for the remainder of the total 39%.