The effects of a mindfulness-based stress reduction program and deep relaxation exercises on pregnancy-related anxiety levels: A randomized controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to examine the effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and deep relaxation exercises on pregnancy-related anxiety levels.
Results Summary
The MBSR program significantly reduced pregnancy-related anxiety, including fears of giving birth, worries about bearing a handicapped child, and concerns about appearance, compared to deep relaxation exercises and routine prenatal care. Deep relaxation exercises also reduced fear of giving birth but were less effective than MBSR for other anxiety measures.
Population
95 pregnant women from outpatient clinics in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Türkiye.
Effective Dosage
MBSR group: eight sessions (two per week for 4 weeks); deep relaxation group: exercises at home four times a week for 4 weeks.
Duration
4 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program | decrease | PRAQ-R2 Fear of Giving Birth subscale scores | pregnant women | - | lower than that of the participants in the control group | #1 |
deep relaxation exercises | decrease | PRAQ-R2 Fear of Giving Birth subscale scores | pregnant women | - | lower than that of the participants in the control group | #2 |
mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program | decrease | mean total PRAQ-R2 scores | pregnant women | - | significantly lower than the scores of those in the deep relaxation exercises and control groups | #3 |
mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program | decrease | PRAQ-R2 Worries about Bearing a Physically or Mentally Handicapped Child subscale scores | pregnant women | - | significantly lower than the scores of those in the deep relaxation exercises and control groups | #4 |
mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program | decrease | PRAQ-R2 Concern about One's Own Appearance subscale scores | pregnant women | - | significantly lower than the scores of those in the deep relaxation exercises and control groups | #5 |
mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program | decrease | pregnancy-related anxiety levels | pregnant women | - | an effective method for reducing | #6 |
deep relaxation exercises | decrease | fear of giving birth | pregnant women | - | alternative practices for reducing | #7 |
AIM: The present study aimed to examine the effects of a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program and deep relaxation exercises on pregnancy-related anxiety levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This randomized parallel-group controlled trial was conducted with 95 pregnant women (MBSR: n = 32, deep relaxation exercises: n = 31, control: n = 32) between 1 August and 15 October 2022 with pregnant women who were registered at the pregnancy outpatient clinics of a hospital in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Türkiye. CONSORT guidelines were followed in our study. The participants in the MBSR group were given an eight-session MBSR program, consisting of two sessions per week for 4 weeks, whereas the participants in the deep relaxation exercises group were asked to do exercises at home with deep relaxation videos four times a week for 4 weeks. The participants in the control group received only routine prenatal care. RESULTS: The mean PRAQ-R2 Fear of Giving Birth subscale scores of the participants in the MBSR and deep relaxation exercises groups after the intervention were lower than that of the participants in the control group. Additionally, the mean total PRAQ-R2, PRAQ-R2 Worries about Bearing a Physically or Mentally Handicapped Child subscale and PRAQ-R2 Concern about One's Own Appearance subscale scores of the participants in the MBSR group were found to be significantly lower than the scores of those in the deep relaxation exercises and control groups (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The MBSR program is an effective method for reducing pregnancy-related anxiety levels. Additionally, deep relaxation exercises are alternative practices for reducing the fear of giving birth among pregnant women. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05447000.