Effect of Mandala Art Therapy on Childbirth Fear and Anxiety in Expectant Fathers

NCT07704541 | Not Yet Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: 10843
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 148
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of mandala art therapy in reducing childbirth fear and state anxiety among fathers whose partners are nulliparous pregnant women and who are waiting in the obstetric ward waiting area during labor. Eligible participants will be randomly allocated to either the intervention or the control group. Fathers assigned to the intervention group will participate in a single 20-25-minute mandala art therapy session, whereas those in the control group will receive standard care without any additional intervention. Childbirth fear and state anxiety will be assessed using the Fathers' Birth Fear Scale and the State subscale of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, respectively, at baseline and immediately following the intervention. The findings of this study are expected to provide evidence regarding the effectiveness of mandala art therapy as a non-pharmacological intervention for alleviating childbirth-related fear and anxiety among expectant fathers.

Conditions

Paternal Childbirth Fear; State Anxiety; Psychological Distress

Keywords

mandala art therapy; childbirth fear; obstetric waiting room

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Childbirth Fear

  Childbirth fear will be assessed using the Fathers' Birth Fear Scale (BDKÖ). The scale measures fathers' fear related to childbirth process and hospital-related concerns. Higher scores indicate higher levels of childbirth fear. Assessments will be performed before and after the mandala art therapy intervention.

  Baseline and immediately after intervention (approximately 30-45 minutes post-intervention)

Study Arms (2)

Mandala Art Therapy Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group will receive mandala art therapy. The intervention consists of a 20-25 minute individual mandala coloring activity conducted in the obstetric waiting area. Participants will be provided with a mandala coloring book and colored pencils and will freely choose patterns and colors.

Behavioral: Mandala Art Therapy

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in this group will receive no intervention. They will complete the same pre-test and post-test assessments as the intervention group at the same time points.

Interventions

Mandala Art Therapy BEHAVIORAL

Participants will engage in a mandala coloring activity lasting approximately 20-25 minutes. The intervention is designed as a relaxation-based expressive art therapy. Participants will select mandala patterns and colors freely. No guidance or psychological counseling is provided during the activity.

Mandala Art Therapy Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 40 Years
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Fathers whose partners are nulliparous pregnant women Fathers aged 18 years and older Fathers whose partners are admitted for planned vaginal delivery Fathers present in the obstetric waiting area during the study period Fathers who are able to read and understand Turkish Fathers who voluntarily agree to participate in the study

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of obstetric emergency or unplanned change in delivery method (e.g., emergency cesarean section) History of diagnosed psychiatric disorders requiring treatment (e.g., anxiety disorders) Inability to understand or complete study questionnaires Absence from the waiting area during the intervention period

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Inonu University: lead
• The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey: collaborator

Related Publications (1)

• Hildingsson I, Johansson M, Fenwick J, Haines H, Rubertsson C. Childbirth fear in expectant fathers: findings from a regional Swedish cohort study. Midwifery. 2014 Feb;30(2):242-7. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2013.01.001. Epub 2013 Feb 27.

  PMID: 23455031 RESULT

Related Links

• Fathers' fear of childbirth

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Anxiety Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Esra GÜNEY, Associate Professor

  İnönü University Faculty of Health Sciences

  STUDY DIRECTOR

• Melike Tan, midwife

  İnönü University Faculty of Health Sciences

  STUDY DIRECTOR

• Zeynep Bal, PhD

  Turgut Özal University Faculty of Health Sciences

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

ESRA GÜNEY, Associate Professor

CONTACT

+90 5432064063; esra.guney@inonu.edu.tr

Melike Tan, midwife

CONTACT

+90 5452259635; melike9635@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER
• Masking Details: Blinding of participants and investigators is not feasible due to the nature of the intervention (mandala art therapy). Participants are aware of the activity they receive, and the intervention provider is also aware of group allocation. Outcome assessment is performed using standardized self-report scales.
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: master's student

Model Details: Participants will be randomly allocated to two parallel groups: an intervention group receiving mandala art therapy and a control group receiving no intervention. Outcome assessments will be performed at baseline, prior to the intervention, and repeated immediately following the intervention.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 13, 2026
• First Posted: July 15, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 1, 2026
• Last Updated: July 20, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share