Skip to content

A time for psycho-spiritual transcendence: The experiences of Iranian women of pain during childbirth.

Z Taghizdeh, A Ebadi, M Dehghani, M Gharacheh, P Yadollahi

Women and birth : journal of the Australian College of Midwives June 23, 2017 DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2017.04.010 (opens in new tab)

Read Full Text
Relevant Not relevant

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Qualitative study Peer reviewed
Sample size 17
Population Women who met inclusion criteria for the study and gave birth, in Iran
Topics Meditation
Keywords Humans Labor pain Delivery, obstetric Stress, psychological Emotions Mothers Pregnancy Parturition Qualitative research Adult Women's health Iran Female Interviews as topic Surveys and questionnaires Childbirth Motherhood Transcendence Psycho-spiritual
Key findings Women described labor pain as "a time for psycho-spiritual transcendence," with categories of conflicting emotions towards pain, new insight towards labor pain, self-actualization, and spiritual development. Most participants reported positive experiences and attitudes toward childbirth pain, which the authors attribute to cultural, contextual, and religious factors, and describe "transcendental progression" as a prominent feeling linked to positive inner feelings and self-actualization.

Abstract

Background: The description of women's experiences of childbirth improves our understandings of the nature of childbirth, women's suffering and pain during childbirth.

Aim: This study aimed to explore women's experiences of pain during childbirth.

Method: A qualitative study was conducted using a conventional content analysis method proposed by Graneheim and Lundman (2004). In-depth face to face semi-structured interviews were held with 17 women who met inclusion criteria for participation in this study.

Findings: The women's experiences of pain during childbirth was described as 'a time for psycho-spiritual transcendence'. Categories developed during the data analysis were 'conflicting emotions towards pain', 'new insight towards labor pain', 'self-actualization' and 'spiritual development'.

Conclusion: Most participants had positive experiences and attitudes towards pain during childbirth influenced by cultural, context and religious factors. According to this study, 'transcendental progression' was an eminent feeling that created positive inner feelings along with self-actualization in women. This provides a new insight on labor pain and helps healthcare providers understand the effect of pain during childbirth on women's spiritual, mental and psychological needs.

Comparable studies

Other qualitative studies on meditation, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
The varieties of contemplative experience: A mixed-methods study of meditation-related challenges in Western Buddhists Western Buddhist meditation practitioners and experts in Theravāda, Zen, and Tibetan... 2017 Qualitative study with mixed-methods
The Effects of Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction on Nurse Stress and Burnout Nurses in a hospital system 2004 Implementation study with mixed methods
An exploratory mixed methods study of the acceptability and effectiveness of mindfulness -based cognitive therapy for patients with active depression and anxiety in primary care Primary care patients with recurrent depression or recurrent depression and anxiety 2006 Exploratory mixed methods study n = 13
A qualitative study of mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy for depression Participants in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in a mental-health context 2001 Qualitative study n = 7
Effortless awareness: using real time neurofeedback to investigate correlates of posterior cingulate cortex activity in meditators' self-report Meditators 2013 Qualitative study using grounded theory methodology

Citations in the library

Cited by 3

Cites 3

Related reading

Explore topics

Meditation