Fetal Health Locus of Control, Maternal Anxiety, and Cardiotocography in High-Risk Pregnancies

August 15, 2026 updated by: Doruk Cevdi Katlan, Istanbul Training and Research Hospital

The Relationship Between Fetal Health Locus of Control Perceptions, Anxiety Levels, and Fetal Cardiotocography Parameters in High-Risk Pregnant Women

This prospective observational cross-sectional study aims to evaluate the relationships among fetal health locus of control (FHLC) perceptions, maternal anxiety levels, and fetal cardiotocography parameters in high-risk pregnant women. Pregnant women at 32 weeks of gestation or later who undergo routine non-stress testing (NST) at the Perinatology Outpatient Clinic will be invited to participate. On the same day as the routine NST, participants will complete the Fetal Health Locus of Control Scale and the Beck Anxiety Inventory. Associations between FHLC dimensions, maternal anxiety levels, and NST parameters, including baseline fetal heart rate, number of accelerations, reactivity, and presence of decelerations, will be evaluated.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Detailed Description

Fetal health locus of control reflects pregnant women's beliefs regarding the factors that determine the health of their unborn child. These beliefs may influence health-related behaviors during pregnancy. Maternal anxiety may also affect fetal heart rate regulation through autonomic and neuroendocrine mechanisms.

This study will prospectively evaluate high-risk pregnant women at 32 weeks of gestation or later who are undergoing routine non-stress testing at the Perinatology Outpatient Clinic. After written informed consent is obtained, participants will complete the Fetal Health Locus of Control Scale and the Beck Anxiety Inventory on the same day as their routine 20-minute NST.

The Fetal Health Locus of Control Scale consists of three dimensions: Internal Health Locus of Control, Chance Health Locus of Control, and Powerful Others Health Locus of Control. NST recordings will be evaluated according to FIGO-based criteria by an experienced investigator. Baseline fetal heart rate, accelerations, reactivity, decelerations, and other relevant cardiotocographic parameters will be recorded.

This study aims prospective cross-sectional evaluation of high-risk pregnant women undergoing routine non-stress testing. The primary objective is to investigate the relationships among fetal health locus of control perceptions, maternal anxiety levels, and fetal cardiotocography parameters. Secondary analyses will examine the relationships of these variables with maternal sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

150

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
      • Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)
        • Recruiting
        • Istanbul Training and Research Hospital
        • Contact:
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Nebahat Uzunay
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Filiz Değirmenci
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Pregnant women at 32 weeks of gestation or later who are being followed for a high-risk pregnancy and undergo routine non-stress testing. Participants will complete the Fetal Health Locus of Control Scale and the Beck Anxiety Inventory on the same day as their routine NST.

Description

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

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
High-Risk Pregnant Women
Pregnant women at 32 weeks of gestation or later who are being followed for a high-risk pregnancy and undergo routine non-stress testing. Participants will complete the Fetal Health Locus of Control Scale and the Beck Anxiety Inventory on the same day as their routine NST.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Association Between Fetal Health Locus of Control and Maternal Anxiety
Time Frame: At the single study visit, on the same day as the routine NST
The relationship between scores obtained from the Fetal Health Locus of Control Scale and maternal anxiety measured using the Beck Anxiety Inventory will be evaluated. The Internal Health Locus of Control, Chance Health Locus of Control, and Powerful Others Health Locus of Control dimensions will be analyzed separately.
At the single study visit, on the same day as the routine NST
Association Between Fetal Health Locus of Control and Cardiotocography Parameters
Time Frame: During the 20-minute routine NST performed at the single study visit
Associations between fetal health locus of control dimensions and NST parameters, including baseline fetal heart rate, number of accelerations, reactivity, and presence of decelerations, will be evaluated.
During the 20-minute routine NST performed at the single study visit
Association Between Maternal Anxiety and Cardiotocography Parameters
Time Frame: During the 20-minute routine NST performed at the single study visit
The relationship between maternal anxiety measured using the Beck Anxiety Inventory and NST parameters, including baseline fetal heart rate, number of accelerations, reactivity, and presence of decelerations, will be evaluated.
During the 20-minute routine NST performed at the single study visit

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Associations With Sociodemographic and Obstetric Characteristics
Time Frame: At the single study visit
Associations of fetal health locus of control, maternal anxiety levels, and cardiotocography parameters with maternal sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics, including age, gravidity, education level, income level, consanguinity, smoking status, and pre-pregnancy preparation, will be evaluated.
At the single study visit

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Istanbul Training and Research Hospital

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

April 14, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

May 1, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 15, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 15, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

August 19, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

August 19, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 15, 2026

Last Verified

August 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • ISTANBUL TRH - 14.04.2026-121

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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