THE RELATIONSHIP OF EXTRAVERSION - INTROVERSION AND TACTILE STIMULATION TO PERCEIVED LEVEL OF COMFORT AMONG PARTURIENT WOMEN.
Contributors: Adelphi University.
Published: 1987
Number of pages: 261
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: This study investigated the relationship of extraversion-introversion and tactile stimulation to perceived comfort among parturient women during the active stage of labor.

Since extraverts are characterized by "stimulus hunger" and introverts by "stimulus aversion," it was hypothesized that extraverts would have greater perceived comfort than introverts, that extraverts who received tactile stimulation would have greater perceived comfort than extraverts who didn't receive tactile stimulation, that introverts who didn't receive tactile stimulation would have greater perceived comfort than introverts who received tactile stimulation, and that there would be a significant interaction between extraversion-introversion and tactile stimulation.

One hundred seventeen, married, Caucasian, parturient women over age 21 who had prepared childbirth education and were three to six centimeters dilated, were randomly assigned to two groups. The experimental group (n = 23 extraverts, 19 introverts) received a tactile stimulation regimen consisting of handholding, abdominal effleurage, and upper arm effleurage throughout six uterine contractions. The control group (n = 19 extraverts, 22 introverts) received no tactile stimulation.

Perceived comfort was measured five times over nine uterine contractions using a visual analogue scale. Extraversion-introversion was measured during postpartum interview using the Eysenck Personality Inventory (Eysenck & Eysenck, 1968).

The hypotheses were not supported. Significant findings in this study included: women who received tactile stimulation had significantly greater perceived comfort than women who didn't receive tactile stimulation; extraverts who received tactile stimulation demonstrated a significant, progressive increase in perceived comfort; introverts who received tactile stimulation demonstrated a significant, progressive decrease in perceived comfort; and duration of uterine contractions was significantly shorter among women who received tactile stimulation. Also, extraverts were significantly younger than introverts.

Lack of support for hypotheses was attributed, in part, to the combined effects of auditory stimulation, presence of a caring individual, preparatory childbirth education, the tendency of extraverts to exaggerate discomfort, differing definitions of comfort between extraverts and introverts, and the conjointed role of pain and pleasure during labor.

Findings suggest that judicious use of tactile stimulation, which considers the personality type of the client, promotes comfort among parturient women during the active stage of labor.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 48-08, Section: B, page: 2265.

Thesis (PH.D.)--ADELPHI UNIVERSITY, 1987.

School code: 0001.