Effects of mindfulness-based childbirth education on prenatal anxiety: A quasi-experimental study.
Adnan Innab, A. AlKhunaizi, Areej Al-otaibi, Hamza Moafa
Acta Psychologica July 8, 2023 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2023.103978 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Quasi-experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 88 |
| Population | Pregnant Saudi women with anxiety in the third trimester |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) |
| Measures | Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire, Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Keywords | Education |
| Key findings | Mindfulness-based intervention sessions were followed by a large, statistically significant reduction in pregnancy-related anxiety, with post-intervention anxiety much lower in the intervention group than the control group. Education level and spontaneous or medically necessary abortion significantly influenced anxiety, and nulliparous women experienced less anxiety during pregnancy. |
Abstract
Pregnancy and childbirth represent a sequence of challenging events, and adaptive coping strategies are necessary to maintain emotional wellbeing. The present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of applying a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) for pregnant Saudi women with anxiety in the third trimester. A quasi-experimental, within- and between-subject design was used for this study. Data were collected at two points between February and August 2021 from 88 participants using the Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire and the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire. A large, statistically significant reduction was observed in the mean scores of participants' anxiety post-intervention. Furthermore, the anxiety level in the intervention group was very low post-intervention compared to that in the control group. Level of education and spontaneous or medically necessary abortion significantly influenced participants' anxiety. The MBI sessions helped nulliparous women experience less anxiety during pregnancy. Healthcare providers' awareness about the importance of incorporating mindfulness in childbirth education should be increased. Future research should examine the long-term effects of mindfulness-based techniques on maternal health.