The association between the emotional tone of birth stories and pregnancy-related anxiety: a dyadic study in Poland

Pregnancy-related anxiety and fear of birth are common psychological phenomena that can affect women's wellbeing and childbirth outcomes. Birth stories shared by relatives, friends, or through social media strongly shape perceptions of childbirth. This study explored how the emotional tone of such stories relates to childbirth-related anxiety among women and their partners. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Poland between February and April 2025, including 121 women with previous birth experience and 103 male partners. Participants rated the emotional tone of birth stories and completed the Polish version of the Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire (PRAQ-R2). Nearly all women (98%) had been exposed to birth stories, mainly from family or social media. Negative stories were associated with higher anxiety about childbirth, pain, and the baby's health, whereas positive stories correlated with lower anxiety and stronger motivation for vaginal birth. Among partners, negative story tone was linked to higher anxiety regarding their partner's delivery. These findings demonstrate that the emotional tone of birth narratives meaningfully influences anxiety and birth expectations in both women and men. Incorporating balanced, evidence-based storytelling into antenatal education could help reduce fear, enhance self-efficacy, and promote positive birth experiences.