The Effect of Rose Aromatherapy on Anxiety Levels During the First Stage of Labor

Authors

  • Ira Titisari Department of Midwifery, Poltekkes Kemenkes Malang
  • Ni Putu Eka Nadya Saraswati Putri Department of Midwifery, Poltekkes Kemenkes Malang

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53713/htechj.v3i6.563

Keywords:

rose aromatherapy, anxiety level, active phase of labor, non-pharmacological therapy, maternal care

Abstract

Maternal anxiety during labor is a common issue that can negatively affect the birthing process and maternal well-being. Rose aromatherapy effectively relaxes the muscles and mind, helping to loosen the uterine muscles and reduce the intensity of pain. This study aimed to determine the effect of rose aromatherapy on anxiety levels during the active phase of the first stage of labor. A quasi-experimental design with a non-equivalent control group was employed, involving 30 respondents who were divided equally into an intervention group and a control group. The research was conducted at Gurah and Sambi Community Health Centers from March to June 2023. Anxiety levels were measured using the DASS-21 scale, and data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test with a significance level of α = 0.05. The results showed that before the intervention, most respondents in the intervention group experienced moderate anxiety, while all respondents in the control group experienced severe anxiety. After administering rose aromatherapy, there was a significant reduction in anxiety levels among respondents in the intervention group compared to the control group (p-value = 0.000). These findings indicate that rose aromatherapy effectively reduces anxiety during the active phase of labor. It functions as a non-pharmacological method that stimulates the limbic system, promoting relaxation and a sense of comfort. The study concludes that rose aromatherapy can be recommended as a complementary intervention for mothers in labor to help manage anxiety. It also serves as a valuable reference for educational institutions, researchers, and healthcare professionals in developing evidence-based practices for maternal care.

References

Abidin, Yunita, R., & Aini Tika Rachmad, S. (2022). The Relationship between Anxiety Levels and Pain Degrees in Postoperative Caesarean Patients at Pasirian Hospital. Nursing and Health Sciences Journal (NHSJ), 2(2), 159–166. https://doi.org/10.53713/nhs.v2i2.125

Ajiningwulan, Nurul Hayati, Musviro, M., Rizeki Dwi Fibriansari, & Sri Wahyuningsih. (2025). Implementation of Lavender Aromatherapy for Post-Caesarean Section Mothers Experiencing Acute Pain. Health and Technology Journal (HTechJ), 3(5), 625–634. https://doi.org/10.53713/htechj.v3i5.491

Amanuel, T., Dache, A., & Dona, A. (2021). Postpartum Hemorrhage and its Associated Factors Among Women who Gave Birth at Yirgalem General Hospital, Sidama Regional State, Ethiopia. Health Services Research and Managerial Epidemiology, 8, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1177/23333928211062777

Çankaya, S., & Şimşek, B. (2021). Effects of Antenatal Education on Fear of Birth, Depression, Anxiety, Childbirth Self-Efficacy, and Mode of Delivery in Primiparous Pregnant Women: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study. Clinical Nursing Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/1054773820916984

Chen, W. & Viljoen, A.M. (2022). Geraniol – A review update. South African Journal of Botany, 150, 1205–1219. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2022.09.012

Cheung, W., Ip, W.Y. & Chan, D. (2020). Maternal anxiety and feelings of control during labour: A study of Chinese first-time pregnant women. Midwifery, 23(2), 123–130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2006.05.001

Delagneau, G., Twilhaar, E. S., Testa, R., & Anderson, P. (2023). Association between prenatal maternal anxiety and/or stress and offspring's cognitive functioning: A meta-analysis. Child Development, 94(3), 779-801. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13885

Fung, T. K., Lau, B. W., Ngai, S. P., & Tsang, H. W. (2020). Therapeutic Effect and Mechanisms of Essential Oils in Mood Disorders: Interaction between the Nervous and Respiratory Systems. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(9), 4844. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22094844

Garakani, A., Murrough, J. W., Freire, R. C., Thom, R. P., Larkin, K., Buono, F. D., & Iosifescu, D. V. (2020). Pharmacotherapy of Anxiety Disorders: Current and Emerging Treatment Options. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11, 595584. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.595584

Ghiasi, A., Bagheri, L. & Haseli, A. (2019). A Systematic Review on the Anxiolytic Effect of Aromatherapy during the First Stage of Labor. Journal of Caring Sciences, 8(1), 51–60. https://doi.org/10.15171/jcs.2019.008

Hamdamian, S., Nazarpour, S., Simbar, M., Hajian, S., Mojab, F., & Talebi, A. (2018). Effects of aromatherapy with Rosa damascena on nulliparous women’s pain and anxiety of labor during first stage of labor. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 16(2), 120-125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joim.2018.02.005

Hamidah, Carolin, B. T., & Lail, N. H. (2022). The Administration of Lemon and Paper Mint Aromatherapy towards Reduction of Emesis Gravidarum in Pregnant Women in Trimester I at Health Center Malangbong, Garut Regency in 2022. Nursing and Health Sciences Journal (NHSJ), 2(2), 183–189. https://doi.org/10.53713/nhs.v2i2.104

Kalok, A., Kamisan Atan, I., Sharip, S., Safian, N., & Shah, S. A. (2024). Psychosocial Determinants of Childbirth Fear Among Asian Women: A Scoping Review. Healthcare, 13(13), 1535. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13131535

Kartaatmaja, R., Azzahroh, P., & Tiara Carolin, B. (2025). The Effect of Classical Music Therapy on Anxiety of Pregnant Women in The Third Trimester. Health and Technology Journal (HTechJ), 3(3), 289–296. https://doi.org/10.53713/htechj.v3i3.332

Kazemi, A., Beigi, M., & Najafabadi, H.E. (2023). Environmental factors influencing women’s childbirth experiences in labor–delivery–recovery–postpartum unit: a qualitative cross-sectional study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 23(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-05488-7.

Manaf, S. A., Yuniwati, C., Dewi, S., & Harahap, L. K. (2020). The Effect of Lavender and Rose Aromatherapy on the Intensity of Active Phase Childbirth Pain in the Manyak Payed Community Health Center, Aceh Tamiang Regency, Indonesia. Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences, 8(E), 494–497. https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2020.4744

Men, L., Liang, L., Wu, S., Sun, Y., Liu, H., Mi, Q., Mazhar, M., Luo, G., Liu, Q., & Liu, M. (2025). A narrative review of aromatherapy: Mechanisms and clinical value in physiological and psychological regulation. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 94, 103261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103261

Nath, A., Venkatesh, S., Balan, S., Metgud, C. S., Krishna, M., & Murthy, G. V. S. (2019). The prevalence and determinants of pregnancy-related anxiety amongst pregnant women at less than 24 weeks of pregnancy in Bangalore, Southern India. International Journal of Women's Health, 241-248. https://doi.org/10.2147/ijwh.s193306

Nugraha, N., & Dewi Nataningtyas, C. (2024). The Correlation of Family Support With the Level of Anxiety of Primigravida Pregnant Women in Facing Labor. Indonesian Midwifery and Health Sciences Journal, 8(2), 193–201. https://doi.org/10.20473/imhsj.v8i2.2024.193-201.

Slee, A., Nazareth, I., Bondaronek, P., Liu, Y., Cheng, Z., & Freemantle, N. (2019). Pharmacological treatments for generalised anxiety disorder: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. The Lancet, 393(10173), 768-777. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31793-8

Steine, I. M., LeWinn, K. Z., Lisha, N., Tylavsky, F., Smith, R., Bowman, M., Sathyanarayana, S., Karr, C. J., Smith, A. K., Kobor, M., & Bush, N. R. (2020). Maternal exposure to childhood traumatic events, but not multi-domain psychosocial stressors, predicts placental corticotropin-releasing hormone across pregnancy. Social Science & Medicine, 266, 113461. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113461

Tabatabaeichehr, M., & Mortazavi, H. (2020). The Effectiveness of Aromatherapy in the Management of Labor Pain and Anxiety: A Systematic Review. Ethiopian Journal of Health Sciences, 30(3), 449–458. https://doi.org/10.4314/ejhs.v30i3.16

Veringa-Skiba, I. K., & Bögels, S. M. (2022). Fear of childbirth, nonurgent obstetric interventions, and newborn outcomes: A randomized controlled trial comparing mindfulness-based childbirth and parenting with enhanced care as usual. Birth, 49(1), 40-51. https://doi.org/10.1111/birt.12571

Yildiz Karaahmet, A., & Bilgiç, F.Ş. (2023). The effect of aromatherapy on labor pain, duration of labor, anxiety and Apgar score outcome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The European Research Journal, 9(5), 1258–1270. https://doi.org/10.18621/eurj.1261999

Downloads

Published

2025-12-09

How to Cite

Titisari, I., & Nadya Saraswati Putri, N. P. E. (2025). The Effect of Rose Aromatherapy on Anxiety Levels During the First Stage of Labor. Health and Technology Journal (HTechJ), 3(6), 763–770. https://doi.org/10.53713/htechj.v3i6.563