Critical predictors of sensory and affective pain during four phases of labor

This descriptive study explored the impact of five psychological and seven physiological predictor variables on sensory and affective pain during early, active, transitional and second-stage labor. Confidence in ability to handle labor, cervical dilatation and fetal station accounted for approximately 33% of the variance in sensory and affective early labor pain, while confidence, severity of menstrual pain and parity explained 21% of sensory and 39% of affective active labor pain. For transitional labor, approximately 24% of sensory pain was explained by menstrual pain, confidence and length of labor, while confidence and menstrual pain contributed 31% of explained variance for affective pain. Concern regarding the outcome of labor and fear of pain explained a small but significant portion of second-stage labor pain.