Efficacy of a Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting Education Program on Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Childbirth Self-Efficacy and Obstetric Outcomes of Pregnant Women

• Main Authors: PAN, WAN-LIN, 潘婉琳
• Other Authors: GAU, MEEI-LING
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2018
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/jd6g8q

博士 === 國立臺北護理健康大學 === 護理研究所 === 106 === Background: The mindfulness intervention has been empirically associated with psychological well-being of healthy and ill population. However, there is insufficient evidence for the efficacy of mindfulness in promoting perinatal mental health. Aim: To explore the efficacy of an eight-week Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting programme on reducing prenatal stress, anxiety, depression, childbirth self-efficacy, mindfulness and subsequent birth outcome. Methods: In this prospective and randomized controlled trial study, 104 women between 13 and 28 weeks gestation were enrolled and assigned randomly into two groups. Participants in the experimental group received Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting Education Program and practice-at-home with audio recordings. The comparison group received conventional childbirth education for a total of four hours over a two-month period. Psychological health was assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and 36-week gestation. Birth outcomes included gestational week at delivery, labor time, modes of delivery, epidural analgesia in labor, types of episiotomy, gestational weight gain, neonatal gender, birth weight and Apgar score, etc. Findings: Significant differences were seen in both groups in terms of changes over time in stress, anxiety, depression, childbirth self-efficacy, and mindfulness, as compared with baseline. In gestation week 36, stress scores were slightly higher and childbirth self-efficacy and mindfulness scores were lower for both groups, but all scores were relatively better in the experimental than in the comparison group. Furthermore, that it was no statistically significant differences between groups about obstetric outcome. Conclusions: The eight-week mindfulness program effectively reduced self-perceived stress and depression and increased childbirth self-efficacy and mindfulness. Future research is demanded to explore the impact of mindfulness on maternal physical health as well as the ongoing effects on physical and mental health of postpartum mothers and infants.