Fetal Health Locus of Control and Maternal Anxiety in High-Risk Pregnancies
Official title: The Relationship Between Fetal Health Locus of Control Perceptions, Anxiety Levels, and Fetal Cardiotocography Parameters in High-Risk Pregnant Women
Run by Istanbul Training and Research Hospital · NCT07774936 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study will see if a mom’s beliefs about what controls her baby’s health and her anxiety level relate to the baby’s heart patterns on routine fetal monitoring in high-risk pregnancies.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 45 Years |
| Sex | Women only |
| Enrollment | 150 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Istanbul Training and Research Hospital Government |
| Locations | 1 site (Istanbul) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | April 14, 2026 |
| Main results expected | May 2028 |
| Study ends | December 2028 |
| Registry record updated | August 19, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07774936 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are singleton pregnancies at 32 weeks or later with a high-risk condition, no psychiatric disorder or current psychiatric meds, and a routine NST planned at the Perinatology Outpatient Clinic.
✕Probably not a fit
Participants with fetal conditions affecting NST tracing or with psychiatric illness or medication use may not benefit from the study findings.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This prospective observational cross-sectional study will enroll women with high-risk pregnancies at 32 weeks of gestation or later who are undergoing a routine non-stress test (NST). Participants will complete the Fetal Health Locus of Control Scale and the Beck Anxiety Inventory on the same day as the NST. Fetal cardiotocography parameters, including baseline heart rate, accelerations, reactivity, and decelerations, will be assessed using FIGO-based criteria by an experienced investigator. The study aims to explore associations between FHLC dimensions, maternal anxiety, and NST findings, with secondary analyses considering sociodemographic factors. No interventions are being tested; the focus is on observational relationships in a single time point per participant.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could help identify psychosocial factors linked to fetal monitoring patterns in high-risk pregnancies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has linked maternal anxiety and health beliefs to pregnancy-related outcomes, but this specific combination with FHLC and NST parameters is novel/less explored.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Singleton pregnancy at 32 weeks of gestation or later * Being followed for a high-risk pregnancy * No known diagnosed psychiatric disorder and no current psychiatric medication use * Absence of a fetal condition considered likely to affect the NST tracing * Maternal age between 18 and 45 years Exclusion Criteria: * Gestational age below 32 weeks and/or multiple pregnancy * Presence of a fetal condition considered likely to affect the NST tracing * Acute maternal infection or an obstetric emergency * Known diagnosed psychiatric disorder and/or current psychiatric medication use * Maternal age below 18 years or above 45 years
Where it's running
-
Istanbul Training and Research Hospital
Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye) Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Doruk C Katlan
- Email: dcek2000@yahoo.com
- Phone: +905353475411
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.