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Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy on the Anxiety Reduction in 3rd Trimester of Pregnant Women

Runjati Runjati, Mardiyono Mardiyono

Journal of Maternal and Child Health November 16, 2023 DOI: 10.26911/thejmch.2023.08.06.09 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed
Sample size 20
Population Pregnant women in the third trimester
Interventions Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) health education and usual care
Duration 8 sessions of 30 minutes each over 2 weeks
Measures HARS
Topics Anxiety Meditation
Key findings Third-trimester pregnant women who received MBCT had lower mean anxiety scores (16.40) than those receiving health education and usual care (23.60), a statistically significant difference (p = 0.015). The authors conclude MBCT is effective for reducing anxiety in the third trimester of pregnancy.

Abstract

Background: Untreated pregnancy anxiety can have a significant impact on the pregnancy and postpartum outcomes. Causing mental disorders during pregnancy has an increased risk and adverse effects on the mother and fetus. Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) can increase awareness about the function of thought patterns in daily activities and is able to control awareness of thoughts, feelings and body gestures that can affect anxiety levels and cortisol hormones in the body. This study aimed to examine the effect MBCT to reduce anxiety in 3rd trimester of pregnant women. Subjects and

Method: This was a randomized controlled trial. A sample of 20 pregnant women divided into two groups. Intervention group was MBCT with 8 sessions for 30 minutes each session within a period of 2 weeks. The control group was health education and usual care. The dependent variable was anxiety. The independent variable was MBCT. Anxiet was measured using HARS questionnaires. Difference of anxiety between groups were tested using independent t-test.

Results: Mean of anxiety score in the MBCT group (Mean= 16.40; SD= 4.01) was lower than in the control group (Mean= 23.60; SD= 7.37), and it was statistically significant (p = 0.015).

Conclusion: MBCT is effective to reduce anxiety in 3rd trimester of pregnant women. Keywords: Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, pregnancy, anxiety. Correspondence: Sundari. Master’s Program of Applied Midwifery, Health Polytechnics, Ministry of Health Semarang. Jl. Tirto Agung, Pedalangan, Banyumanik, Semarang, Central Java 50268. Email: sundarisst3@­gmail.com. Mobile: 0821-7591-9584.