Effectiveness of mindfulness training on pregnancy stress and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in women in China: A multicenter randomized controlled trial.
Shulei Wang, Chen Zhang, Mengyun Sun, Daming Zhang, Ying Luo, Kairu Liang, Tao Xu, XiaoPing Pan, Ruimin Zheng, Fangfang Shangguan, Jia Wang
Frontiers in Psychology March 2, 2023 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1073494 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 117 |
| Population | First-time pregnant Chinese women |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based psychosomatic intervention |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Stress Pregnant women Randomized controlled trial Multicenter Hpa axis |
| Key findings | Mindfulness-based intervention reduced pregnancy stress and altered HPA-axis-related salivary cortisol measures in first-time pregnant Chinese women; the intervention group had lower stress after the intervention and higher Delta and AUCM cortisol values than the active control group. |
Abstract
Introduction: In the past two decades, mindfulness-based intervention programs have gradually become popular.Many studies have confirmed that these programs can effectively alleviate prenatal stress and negative emotion.The mindfulness-based stress-buffering hypothesis suggests that mindfulness training can induce changes in the levels of the cortisol secreted by the HPA axis, thereby reducing stress susceptibility. However, to date, only a few high-quality evidence-based medical studies have analyzed the effect of the mindfulness-based intervention in a maternal population.Thus, this study investigated the effects of a mindfulness-based psychosomatic intervention on pregnancy stress and the HYPERLINK "javascript:;" hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis of pregnant Chinese women.
Methods: Women experiencing first-time pregnancy (n = 117) were randomly allocated to the intervention group or parallel active control group, and data were collected at baseline and post-intervention periods. The participants completed questionnaires regarding mindfulness and pregnancy stress. Saliva samples was collected at the time of waking up, and 30, 45, and 60 min after waking up for analyzing the salivary cortisol levels. We analyzed differences between the two groups and changes within the same group before and after the intervention. Results and
Discussion: A total of 95 participants completed the trial. Compared with the parallel active control group, the intervention group exhibited lower levels of stress after the intervention (P = 0.047). For HPA-axis-related indicators after the intervention, Delta value (P = 0.01) and AUCM value (P = 0.031) of the intervention group were significantly higher than that of the control group. Mindfulness-based interventions effectively reduced the level of pregnancy stress and adjusted the HPA axis function in pregnant women in China. Clinical
Trial Registration: https://www.chictr.org.cn, identifier ChiCTR 2000033149.
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 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 9
- Enhancing Prenatal Group Medical Visits with Mindfulness Skills: A Pragmatic Trial with Latina and BIPOC Pregnant Women Experiencing Multiple Forms of Structural Inequity. Mindfulness December 1, 2024
- Discussion on the Application of Mindfulness Therapy in the Treatment of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: A Narrative Review Psychology Research and Behavior Management August 1, 2025
- Effect of mindfulness group therapy on maternal psychological distress and perinatal outcomes in twin pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial. Frontiers in Psychiatry 2025
- Mindfulness-based interventions for perinatal depression, anxiety, and stress: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, with an exploratory subgroup signal by delivery mode Frontiers in Psychiatry August 4, 2026
- Effects of mindfulness-based interventions on mental health among women with fetal loss: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Midwifery July 15, 2025
and 4 more in the library
Cites 10
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- The Impact of Mindfulness Training on Police Officer Stress, Mental Health, and Salivary Cortisol Levels Frontiers in Psychology September 3, 2021
- Effects of a mindfulness based childbirth and parenting program on pregnant women's perceived stress and risk of perinatal depression-Results from a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Affective Disorders October 30, 2019
- Mindfulness Training and Physical Health: Mechanisms and Outcomes Psychosomatic Medicine April 1, 2019
- Mindfulness for pregnancy: A randomised controlled study of online mindfulness during pregnancy. Midwifery October 2018
and 5 more in the library