Abstract

PURPOSE: The effectiveness of an Internet-based guided self-help cognitive-behavioral therapy (I-GSH-CBT) was assessed in alleviating childbirth fear (CBF), depression, anxiety, and stress of pregnant women during the first delivery. DESIGN AND METHODS: In a quasi-experimental study, pregnant women in the intervention group used the I-GSH-CBT program during pregnancy. The Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire, and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale 42-item (DASS-42) questionnaires were used to collect the psychometric data. FINDINGS: Implementing the I-GSH-CBT significantly reduced CBF, DASS-42 scores, and cesarean section preference. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The I-GSH-CBT program effectively decreases the adverse mood symptoms in nulliparous pregnant women.