Chen Y, Zhao J, Zheng J, Zou Z, Chen X. Relationship between fear of childbirth and oral health-related quality of life in pregnant women: the mediating effect of pregnancy anxiety. J Oral Rehabil 2024; DOI: 10.1111/joor.13897.

Pregnancy anxiety mediates the relationship between fear of childbirth and oral health-related quality of life in pregnant women.

This study explored the association between fear of childbirth and the mediating effect of pregnancy anxiety. Using a cross-sectional design, 478 pregnant women were recruited and evaluated using the Fear of Birth Scale, the Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire and the Oral Health Impact Profile-14. Multiple linear regressions were performed. PROCESS software was applied to assess the mediating effect of pregnancy anxiety. Both fear of childbirth and pregnancy anxiety were negatively correlated with oral health-related quality of life. Pregnancy anxiety mediated 40% of the association between fear of childbirth and oral health-related quality of life. To improve the oral health-related quality of life among pregnant women, healthcare workers should actively help pregnant women to improve psychological health.