Associations of maternal mood on the outcome of childbirth: a latent profile analysis
- 1Nantong University, 19 QiXiu Road, Nantong City, Nantong, Jiangsu Province China
- 2Affiliated Maternal and Children Health Care Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
- 3Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
Abstract
Background: It is important to recognize that childbirth and the transition to the maternal role constitute a profound identity reconstruction, involving both the physical experience of labor and the psychological adaptation to motherhood, during which many women experience unstable and intense emotional fluctuations. This study compared the pregnancy outcomes among women who exhibit varying emotional states during childbirth.
Method: Pregnant women recruited from a maternal and child health hospital had their maternal mood states assessed using the Profile of Mood States (POMS) during the active period of labor. Based on individual POMS item responses, latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted to classify maternal emotional patterns during labor and to identify emotional patterns specific to the latent phase. Outcome measures included labor outcomes (e.g., cervical dilation and duration of labor) as well as neonatal health indicators. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to compare pregnancy outcomes across different groups.
Results: A total of 244 women giving birth were investigated, among whom two distinct emotional groups emerged based on their experiences during childbirth: a positive mood cohort comprised 213 individuals (87.5%), while the remaining 31 (12.5%,) displayed negative emotional states. Women experiencing negative mood during childbirth displayed extended duration of cervical dilation, lower levels of umbilical artery chloride ion and pH, and higher levels of lactic acid and anion gap. Subsequent adjustments for confounding factors revealed statistically significant disparities in Full dilation of the cervix and duration of contractions (F = 4.898, p = 0.028), umbilical artery pH (F = 4.529, p = 0.034), lactic acid levels (F = 6.792, p = 0.010), and anion gap levels (F = 15.154, p = 0.000) among women.
Conclusion: Negative emotional states during childbirth can prolong Full dilation of the cervix and duration of contractions and increase the risk of subumbilical artery pH. As a result, we recommend that healthcare professionals enhance psychological support and counseling throughout the delivery process to mitigate emotional distress during labor, ultimately leading to improved pregnancy outcomes.
Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-026-02434-6.
Related
- Associations Between Childbirth-Related Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Mother–Infant Bonding Difficulties: The Role of Maternal Stress and Perceived Infant Regulatory Difficulties
- Latent profile analysis of postpartum depression symptoms and its associations with weight stigma and eating behaviors among postpartum women in China
- Heterogeneity in maternal perceptions of psychological birth trauma: a latent profile analysis and predictor study
- Latent profile analysis of adolescent quality of life and its associations with lifestyle behaviors
- Heterogeneity in clinical nurses’ core competency and its associations with self-efficacy and self-directed learning ability: a cross-sectional latent profile analysis
BibTeX
@article{yang2026associations,
title = {{Associations of maternal mood on the outcome of childbirth: a latent profile analysis}},
author = {Ziyi Yang and Huahua Liu and Qiuhua Cai and Xiaoling Zhu and Zhifang Chen and Feng Zhang},
journal = {Reproductive Health},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1186/s12978-026-02434-6},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-026-02434-6},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Associations of maternal mood on the outcome of childbirth: a latent profile analysis
AU - Ziyi Yang
AU - Huahua Liu
AU - Qiuhua Cai
AU - Xiaoling Zhu
AU - Zhifang Chen
AU - Feng Zhang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/13
JO - Reproductive Health
DO - 10.1186/s12978-026-02434-6
UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-026-02434-6
AB - Background: It is important to recognize that childbirth and the transition to the maternal role constitute a profound identity reconstruction, involving both the physical experience of labor and the psychological adaptation to motherhood, during which many women experience unstable and intense emotional fluctuations. This study compared the pregnancy outcomes among women who exhibit varying emotional states during childbirth. Method: Pregnant women recruited from a maternal and child health hospital had their maternal mood states assessed using the Profile of Mood States (POMS) during the active period of labor. Based on individual POMS item responses, latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted to classify maternal emotional patterns during labor and to identify emotional patterns specific to the latent phase. Outcome measures included labor outcomes (e.g., cervical dilation and duration of labor) as well as neonatal health indicators. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to compare pregnancy outcomes across different groups. Results: A total of 244 women giving birth were investigated, among whom two distinct emotional groups emerged based on their experiences during childbirth: a positive mood cohort comprised 213 individuals (87.5%), while the remaining 31 (12.5%,) displayed negative emotional states. Women experiencing negative mood during childbirth displayed extended duration of cervical dilation, lower levels of umbilical artery chloride ion and pH, and higher levels of lactic acid and anion gap. Subsequent adjustments for confounding factors revealed statistically significant disparities in Full dilation of the cervix and duration of contractions (F = 4.898, p = 0.028), umbilical artery pH (F = 4.529, p = 0.034), lactic acid levels (F = 6.792, p = 0.010), and anion gap levels (F = 15.154, p = 0.000) among women. Conclusion: Negative emotional states during childbirth can prolong Full dilation of the cervix and duration of contractions and increase the risk of subumbilical artery pH. As a result, we recommend that healthcare professionals enhance psychological support and counseling throughout the delivery process to mitigate emotional distress during labor, ultimately leading to improved pregnancy outcomes. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-026-02434-6.
SN - 1742-4755
ER -