The Effect of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Training on Fear of Childbirth and Psychological Well-being in Women Experiencing Premenstrual Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Aysel Akbeniz, Esra Sabancı Baransel
Research Square May 11, 2026 preprint DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9502810/v1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 126 |
| Population | Women experiencing premenstrual syndrome (PMS) |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) |
| Duration | 8-session program delivered twice weekly (40 minutes per session); no long-term follow-up |
| Measures | Premenstrual Syndrome Scale (PMSS), Childbirth Fear – Prior to Pregnancy Scale (CF-PPS), Psychological Well-being Scale (PWBS) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Registration | NCT06942169 |
| Key findings | MBSR was associated with significant improvements in all outcomes versus no intervention: reduced premenstrual symptom severity (partial eta-squared 0.117), reduced pre-pregnancy fear of childbirth (partial eta-squared 0.125), and increased psychological well-being (partial eta-squared 0.285). The authors suggest MBSR may be an effective non-pharmacological intervention but caution that results are short-term with no long-term follow-up. |
Abstract
Abstract
Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program on premenstrual symptom severity, pre-pregnancy fear of childbirth, and psychological well-being in women experiencing Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS).
Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted with 126 women experiencing PMS between June 2023 and November 2025 (MBSR group: n = 63; control group: n = 63). The intervention group participated in an 8-session online MBSR program, delivered twice weekly (40 minutes per session), while the control group received no intervention. Data were collected using the Premenstrual Syndrome Scale (PMSS), the Childbirth Fear – Prior to Pregnancy Scale (CF-PPS), and the Psychological Well-being Scale (PWBS). Between-group differences were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) adjusting for baseline values, and effect sizes were reported using partial eta-squared (η²). The trial was retrospectively registered (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT06942169).
Results: The MBSR intervention was associated with statistically significant improvements in all outcomes compared to the control group. Adjusted analyses indicated a significant reduction in premenstrual symptom severity (p < 0.001, η²=0.117) and fear of childbirth (p < 0.001, η²=0.125), as well as a significant increase in psychological well-being (p < 0.001, η²=0.285). These findings correspond to moderate effect sizes for PMSS and CF-PPS and a near-large effect size for PWBS.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that MBSR may be an effective non-pharmacological intervention for reducing premenstrual symptoms, decreasing pre-pregnancy fear of childbirth, and improving psychological well-being in women experiencing PMS. However, the results should be interpreted with caution due to the short-term nature of the assessment and the absence of long-term follow-up data.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |