Perceived stress and life satisfaction in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic: the mediating role of fear of childbirth and self-esteem

The COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected the functioning and well-being of pregnant women. Negative feelings during pregnancy and the difficult pandemic situation may be the reason behind the perceived fear of childbirth, which can nega-tively affect the pregnant women’s life satisfaction. On the other hand, some protective factors, such as self-esteem, might mediate the relationship between perceived stress and well-being in pregnant women.Our study aimed to determine the relationship between perceived stress, fear of childbirth, self-esteem and life satisfaction. A total of 262 Polish pregnant women participated in this study. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Fear of Childbirth Scale (KLP II), Self-Esteem Scale (SES) and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) were used in the study.The results showed that perceived stress, fear of childbirth and self-esteem acted as significant predictors of life satisfaction in the tested group of pregnant women. Additionally, fear of childbirth and self-esteem played a mediational role in the relationship between perceived stress and life satisfaction.According to Diener’s concept, life satisfaction is an important component of one’s subjective well-being and health. There-fore, it is important to analyse factors that may mediate the impact of stress on pregnant women’s life satisfaction. The present results might suggest that during pregnancy and preparation for childbirth, women should be provided with appro-priate psychological care. Support from medical and psychological specialists, as well as from relatives, can reduce the level of perceived fears and strengthen personal resources. Based on the present results, we conclude that the fear of childbirth and the self-esteem of pregnant women should not be underestimated, as they are important predictors of their life satisfaction.