The purpose of this study was to understand self confidence during delivery in laboring women and to identify the factors influencing self confidence for delivery.

The participants of the study were 166 women who were admitted to a delivery room at C hospital in Seoul from July 1 to October 31, 2002. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire, self confidence scale, anxiety scale, knowledge of childbirth scale and graphic rating scale. The data was analyzed by the SPSS PC+ program. For the analysis of collected data, frequency analysis, Pearson's correlation, multiple linear regression analysis and stepwise selection method was used.

Self confidence during delivery had negative correlation coefficients with anxiety, and positive correlation coefficients with endurance of pain, husband support during pregnancy, age and parity. Anxiety was the highest factor influencing self confidence for delivery (40.0%). Endurance of pain, husband support during pregnancy and age accounted for 49.0% of self confidence in laboring women.

The factors influencing self confidence during delivery were anxiety, endurance to pain, husband support during pregnancy and age. Further studies need to be done to identify interventions for overcoming on anxiety, promoting endurance of pain, and increasing husband support during pregnancy.