--- title: Is PMS linked to fear of childbirth in first-time pregnant women? description: Yes, nearly half of first-time pregnant women experienced fear of childbirth, and PMS showed a moderate link to it. Poor sleep, weak support, and relationship url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/fear-of-childbirth-in-primipara-women-and-its-correlation-with-premenstrual-2025/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Is PMS linked to fear of childbirth in first-time pregnant women? Survey study, 2025 # Is PMS linked to fear of childbirth in first-time pregnant women? Yes, nearly half of first-time pregnant women experienced fear of childbirth, and PMS showed a moderate link to it. Poor sleep, weak support, and relationship problems also mattered. Early or limited evidence 597 first-time pregnant women in Nantong City, Jiangsu Province, China ## What they did Researchers surveyed 597 first-time pregnant women in China between December 2023 and February 2024. They measured fear of childbirth, PMS history, sleep quality, social support, marital adjustment, and whether pregnancy was intended. ## What they found 46.73% experienced fear of childbirth. Dysmenorrhea, unintended pregnancy, PMS, poor social support, poor sleep quality, and marital problems all significantly influenced fear of childbirth. PMS was moderately positively correlated with fear of childbirth (r=0.549). ## What it means for you Women with a history of PMS may need extra emotional support during pregnancy, particularly regarding childbirth. The study only measured associations, not cause and effect. It included only pregnant women in one Chinese city. 46.73% experienced fear of childbirth 0.549 correlation between PMS and fear 597 participants ## About the study Original title Fear of childbirth in primipara women and its correlation with premenstrual syndrome: A cross-sectional study Authors Li Y, Lu Y, Xu X Journal PloS one Year 2025 Study design Survey study Participants 597 What was tested Observational study (no intervention tested) Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0332135](https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0332135) Original abstract Introduction: Fear of Childbirth (FOC) is the most common psychological problem among pregnant women, especially in primipara women who are more likely to fear the unknown delivery process. The causes of FOC are complex and influenced by various factors, but the impact of menstruation-related factors remains unclear. Therefore, this study aims to understand the current situation of FOC in primiparous women during late pregnancy, investigate the influencing factors of FOC, and further explore the correlation between premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and FOC. Methods: This study is a multicenter cross-sectional study. A convenience sampling method is used to select 597 primiparous women who attend regular prenatal check-ups at three healthcare institutions in Nantong City, Jiangsu Province, China, between December 2023 and February 2024. Participants are required to complete the general information questionnaire, Premenstrual Syndrome Scale, Childbirth Attitude Questionnaire, Perceived Social Support Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Marital Adjustment Scale. Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis test are used to access the between-group differences. Multiple linear regression is used to analyze the influencing factors of FOC. Spearman correlation examines the relationship between PMS and FOC. Results: The results show that 46.73% of primiparous women experience FOC. Multiple linear regression analysis shows that dysmenorrhea, unintended pregnancy, PMS, social support, sleep quality, and marital relationship are significant factors influencing FOC (P < 0.05). Additionally, PMS is moderately positively correlated with FOC (r = 0.549, P < 0.01). Conclusion: Our study results indicate that the social issue of FOC deserves attention. Clinical healthcare professionals should focus on the physical and mental well-being of pregnant women, particularly those with PMS. They should enhance prenatal psychological assessments and provide targeted emotional support based on individual circumstances, helping these women better cope with childbirth, improve their childbirth experience, and ensure maternal and infant health. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Sleep and insomnia](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-sleep/)[Pregnancy and postpartum](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-postpartum/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Survey study, 2026 Does fear of childbirth explain why women with PMS are more likely to develop postpartum depression? Cohort study, 2024 Is there a link between sleep and menstrual problems in teenage girls? Survey study, 2024 Does poor sleep and period problems affect teen mental health? Survey study, 2019 What lifestyle and sleep habits are linked to PMS in teenage girls? Survey study, 1988 Do women with PMS have higher rates of postpartum depression and birth control side effects? Survey study, 2026 Does PMS affect how well young women sleep? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗