Abstract
This descriptive study explored the impact of five psychological and seven physiological predictor variables on sensory and affective pain during early, active, transitional and second-stage labor. Confidence in ability to handle labor, cervical dilatation and fetal station accounted for approximately 33% of the variance in sensory and affective early labor pain, while confidence, severity of menstrual pain and parity explained 21% of sensory and 39% of affective active labor pain. For transitional labor, approximately 24% of sensory pain was explained by menstrual pain, confidence and length of labor, while confidence and menstrual pain contributed 31% of explained variance for affective pain. Concern regarding the outcome of labor and fear of pain explained a small but significant portion of second-stage labor pain.

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