Mindfulness and Relaxation-Based Interventions to Reduce Parental Stress, Anxiety and/or Depressive Symptoms in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Systematic Review
K. H. Ginsberg, Jane M Alsweiler, Mohsen Alyami, A. Serlachius
Journal of clinical psychology in medical settings August 19, 2022 DOI: 10.1007/s10880-022-09902-8 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Parents with infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) |
| Intervention | relaxation-based interventions |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Key findings | The most consistent results suggest mindfulness and/or relaxation-based interventions may be effective at reducing anxiety symptoms in NICU parents, with moderate to large effect sizes, and show promise for reducing depressive symptoms, while showing limited potential benefits on parental stress. Methodological weaknesses, heterogeneous intervention factors, and varying adherence limit strong conclusions. |
Abstract
Parents with infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) experience high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. Mindfulness and relaxation-based interventions are effective in reducing distress in the general postpartum population. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate whether mindfulness and/or relaxation-based interventions reduce stress, anxiety, and depression in NICU parents. A total of five studies met the inclusion criteria and were assessed for quality using the Downs & Black Checklist. The most consistent results in this review suggest that mindfulness and/or relaxation-based interventions may be effective at reducing anxiety symptoms in NICU parents, with moderate to large effect sizes, and show promise in reducing depressive symptoms. The findings show limited potential benefits on parental stress. Methodological weaknesses, heterogeneous intervention factors (including format and length), and varying participant adherence hinder the ability to make strong conclusions. Directions for future research are discussed.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on anxiety, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Mindfulness- and relaxation-based interventions for Premenstrual Syndrome: A Systematic Review. Women & health August 25, 2026
- Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Pediatric Surgical Nursing: A Review of Evidence and Practice Journal of Pediatric Surgical Nursing April 24, 2026
- A four-session mindfulness-based cognitive therapy enhances problem-focused coping strategies in mothers of neonates in NICUs. BMC Psychology December 2, 2025
- Virtual reality enhanced mindfulness and yoga intervention for postpartum depression and anxiety in the post COVID era Scientific Reports April 6, 2025
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