Anxiety Sensitivity As a Predictor of Labor Pain

Psychosocial factors have been implicated in the pain experience during childbirth, which can have both short- and long-term consequences on the mother's health and her relationship with her infant. The present study evaluated important demographic, social, and psychological factors as predictors of multiple dimensions of labor pain among 35 mothers during childbirth. The results indicated that anxiety sensitivity (AS), as measured by the Anxiety Sensitivity Index, shared a significant relation with maximum pain during labor as well as sensory and affective components of pain as measured by the McGill Pain Questionnaire. AS predicted both maximum pain during labor and sensory aspects of pain above and beyond demographic and social factors as well as other theoretically important psychological factors (e.g., depression and state anxiety). These data replicate previous research that has demonstrated the significant impact of AS on pain responding in other areas (e.g., chronic pain) and extend knowledge in this literature to demonstrate the important role that AS serves among women and their experience of labor pain. Clinical implications are highlighted and discussed.