Exploring postpartum women’s experiences and levels of paranormal beliefs: a qualitative and descriptive perspective

Aysel Bülez; Mehtap Sönmez; Zeynep Sünbül Kekeç; Gül Öztürk

doi:10.38058/ijsl.1902840

Exploring postpartum women’s experiences and levels of paranormal beliefs: a qualitative and descriptive perspective

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to explore women's self-reported paranormal experiences during the postpartum period, examine the cultural meanings attributed to these experiences, and descriptively assess levels of paranormal belief using the Paranormal Beliefs Scale (PBS).

Methods: A convergent mixed-methods design was employed. Qualitative data were collected through face-toface, semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis. Quantitative data were collected using the PBS and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Forty-three postpartum women who reported paranormal or unusual visual experiences within the first 42 days after childbirth were recruited through snowball sampling.

Results: Five themes emerged from the qualitative analysis: beliefs associated with the experiences, descriptions of perceived visual experiences, physical responses, psychological responses, and preventive practices. Participants commonly reported seeing black shadows, unfamiliar human-like figures, or animals, usually at night during transitions between wakefulness and sleep. Physical responses included immobility, palpitations, breathlessness, and sensations of suffocation, whereas psychological responses included fear, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and persistent distress. Participants also described religious, traditional, and medical coping practices. The mean PBS score was 27.6 ± 3.26.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that women's interpretations of these experiences are shaped by cultural beliefs. Healthcare professionals should acknowledge such experiences without automatically attributing them to psychiatric pathology and provide culturally sensitive, evidence-based counselling to reduce fear and anxiety, discourage potentially harmful traditional practices, and promote maternal and infant wellbeing.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Psychosocial Aspects of Childbirth and Perinatal Mental Health

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Aysel Bülez ^*
0000-0002-6871-3184
Türkiye

Mehtap Sönmez
0000-0001-6975-0262
Türkiye

Zeynep Sünbül Kekeç
0000-0003-4094-659X
Türkiye

Gül Öztürk
0000-0003-3738-6552
Türkiye

Publication Date

September 30, 2026

Submission Date

March 5, 2026

Acceptance Date

September 22, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 8 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.38058/ijsl.1902840

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA24ZT93PX

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Bülez, A., Sönmez, M., Sünbül Kekeç, Z., & Öztürk, G. (2026). Exploring postpartum women’s experiences and levels of paranormal beliefs: a qualitative and descriptive perspective. International Journal of Science Letters, 8(1), 17-28. https://doi.org/10.38058/ijsl.1902840

AMA

1.Bülez A, Sönmez M, Sünbül Kekeç Z, Öztürk G. Exploring postpartum women’s experiences and levels of paranormal beliefs: a qualitative and descriptive perspective. IJSL. 2026;8(1):17-28. doi:10.38058/ijsl.1902840

Chicago

Bülez, Aysel, Mehtap Sönmez, Zeynep Sünbül Kekeç, and Gül Öztürk. 2026. “Exploring Postpartum Women’s Experiences and Levels of Paranormal Beliefs: A Qualitative and Descriptive Perspective”. International Journal of Science Letters 8 (1): 17-28. https://doi.org/10.38058/ijsl.1902840.

EndNote

Bülez A, Sönmez M, Sünbül Kekeç Z, Öztürk G (September 1, 2026) Exploring postpartum women’s experiences and levels of paranormal beliefs: a qualitative and descriptive perspective. International Journal of Science Letters 8 1 17–28.

IEEE

[1]A. Bülez, M. Sönmez, Z. Sünbül Kekeç, and G. Öztürk, “Exploring postpartum women’s experiences and levels of paranormal beliefs: a qualitative and descriptive perspective”, IJSL, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 17–28, Sept. 2026, doi: 10.38058/ijsl.1902840.

ISNAD

Bülez, Aysel - Sönmez, Mehtap - Sünbül Kekeç, Zeynep - Öztürk, Gül. “Exploring Postpartum Women’s Experiences and Levels of Paranormal Beliefs: A Qualitative and Descriptive Perspective”. International Journal of Science Letters 8/1 (September 1, 2026): 17-28. https://doi.org/10.38058/ijsl.1902840.

JAMA

1.Bülez A, Sönmez M, Sünbül Kekeç Z, Öztürk G. Exploring postpartum women’s experiences and levels of paranormal beliefs: a qualitative and descriptive perspective. IJSL. 2026;8:17–28.

MLA

Bülez, Aysel, et al. “Exploring Postpartum Women’s Experiences and Levels of Paranormal Beliefs: A Qualitative and Descriptive Perspective”. International Journal of Science Letters, vol. 8, no. 1, Sept. 2026, pp. 17-28, doi:10.38058/ijsl.1902840.

Vancouver

1.Aysel Bülez, Mehtap Sönmez, Zeynep Sünbül Kekeç, Gül Öztürk. Exploring postpartum women’s experiences and levels of paranormal beliefs: a qualitative and descriptive perspective. IJSL. 2026 Sep. 1;8(1):17-28. doi:10.38058/ijsl.1902840