Effect of mindfulness group therapy on maternal psychological distress and perinatal outcomes in twin pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial.
Ying Zhou, Zai-Mei Tang, Lin Mei, Xiao-Chang Yang, Hong-Ling Zheng, Bi-Zhen Liao, Xin-Yang Yu
Frontiers in Psychiatry 2025 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1572633 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 120 |
| Population | Women with twin pregnancies |
| Intervention | Mindfulness Group Therapy |
| Duration | 6-week intervention, follow-up at one month postpartum |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Perinatal outcomes Twin pregnancies Expecting twins Mindfulness therapy: mindfulness Online mindfulness therapy Weekly mindfulness sessions Postpartum depression Perceived stress Well-being Anxiety levels Low birth weight |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key findings | Online mindfulness group therapy prevented worsening of postpartum depression, improved mindfulness, reduced perceived stress, and lowered the incidence of low birth weight in twin pregnancies. |
Abstract
Psychosocial stress, depression, and anxiety are prevalent during pregnancy and can be associated with adverse birth outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an online Mindfulness Group Therapy (MGT) program in improving perinatal maternal psychological distress and perinatal outcomes among women with twin pregnancies. In this randomized controlled trial, 120 women carrying twins were assigned to MGT groups (6-week, 120 minutes of mindfulness intervention weekly) or control groups (usual perinatal care and health education). The primary outcomes were maternal psychological distress, including depression, anxiety, stress, and mindfulness measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, State Anxiety Inventory, Perceived Stress Scale, and Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire at three points: baseline, post-intervention and time one month postpartum. Secondary outcomes included maternal pregnancy outcomes and neonatal outcomes. A total of 109 women with twin pregnancies completed the intervention. The intervention significantly and effectively prevented the worsening of postpartum depression symptoms in women with twin pregnancies, improved mindfulness, and reduced perceived stress (P 0.05). Intention-to-treat analysis further revealed that the intervention had a significant effect on reducing postpartum depressive symptoms (P < 0.05), even when considering participants who did not complete the entire study process. In terms of pregnancy outcomes, a significant difference was found between the intervention and control groups in the incidence of low birth weight (P<0.05). MGT proves potentially effective in reducing perinatal stress, preventing prenatal depression, and decreasing the incidence of low-birth-weight infants in twin pregnancies. These findings support the integration of group mindfulness interventions into prenatal mental health care to mitigate prenatal depression among women expecting twins. https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=131787, identifier ChiCTR2100050091.
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
Cites 12
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective Perspectives on Psychological Science October 14, 2011
- Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Assessment February 29, 2008
- Stress-reducing interventions in pregnancy for the prevention of preterm birth: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of psychosomatic obstetrics and gynaecology December 1, 2023
- Effects of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on depression in pregnant women: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders May 1, 2024
and 7 more in the library