Table 3.

Correlation between childbirth experience and mental distress

	N	CEQ emotional experience	CEQ coping possibilities	CEQ professional support	CEQ participation	VAS birth overall judgement
T2: 2 days p.p.
EPDS	267	− 0.33**	− 0.34**	− 0.27**	− 0.21**	− 0.35**
IES	265	− 0.41**	− 0.35**	− 0.16*	− 0.17*	− 0.36**
T3: 6 weeks p.p.
EPDS	248	− 0.17**	− 0.29**	n.s.	− 0.14*	n.s.
IES	247	− 0.38**	− 0.29**	− 0.35**	− 0.31**	− 0.39**
T4: 6 months p.p.
EPDS	221	− 0.18*	− 0.27**	− 0.19*	n.s.	− 0.20*
IES	219	− 0.51**	− 0.42**	− 0.43**	− 0.38**	− 0.49**

Note: Pearson correlations between childbirth experience and depressive (Edingburgh Postpartum Depression Scale) and traumatic (Impact of Event Scale following childbirth) symptoms, each at the same time point (n.s. not significant, *p <.05, **p <.001)