The relationships among perceived labor stress, personal variables, situational variables, and perceived nursing support among women who had delivered vaginally

The process of labor is considered one of the stressful experiences in life. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among perceived labor stress, personal variables, situational variables, and perceived nursing support. A retrospective correlational design was used. This study was based on Lazarus and Folkman's conceptual model A convenience sample of eighty-five women in the first 48 hours postpartum was used. Perceived labor stress was measured by the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (WDEQ) and a Single-item Labor Stress Scale that was developed specifically for this study. To measure perceived nursing support, the Bryanton Adaptation of Nursing Support in Labor Questionnaire (BANSILQ) was used. A demographic questionnaire was used to measure personal variables. Situational variables were measured using the Relevant Subject Information Form.;Results of this study indicated significant correlations between perceived stress during labor and perceived nursing support (r = -.36, p < .0 1) and between perceived stress during labor and the number of labor hours (r = .25, p < .02). Hierarchical regression analysis showed that of all of the variables in this study, perceived nursing support and number of labor hours were the only significant predictors of perceived labor stress.;This study confirmed previous findings regarding nursing support and emphasized the important role that nursing support plays in managing stress during labor.