Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: Jul 21, 2022
Date Accepted: Jan 9, 2023
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A digital guided self-help intervention: A randomized controlled trial of mindfulness during pregnancy to improve maternal psychological distress and infant neuropsychological development
ABSTRACT
Background:
Maternal psychological distress during pregnancy is associated with unfavorable infant outcomes. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) could effectively alleviate psychological distress, but there are often barriers to the access of face-to-face interventions.
Objective:
This study was to investigate the effectiveness of a digital guided self-help (GSF)-MBI in reducing maternal psychological distress and improving infant neuropsychological performance.
Methods:
This was a randomized controlled trial. We recruited 160 women who were at 12–20 weeks of pregnancy and exhibited psychological distress. We randomized them into a digital GSH-MBI group and a control group (usual perinatal care). The digital GSH-MBI consisted of a six-week intervention through a WeChat mini program, with a daily reminder sent to participants by a research assistant via WeChat. The primary outcomes consisted of maternal psychological distress, including depression, anxiety, and pregnancy-related anxiety symptoms, which were assessed at six time points from baseline to 6 months postpartum (we only assessed pregnancy-related anxiety symptoms twice during pregnancy). The secondary outcomes were infant neuropsychological outcomes, including temperament and developmental behaviors, which were assessed at six weeks and six months postpartum.
Results:
Compared to the control group, the digital GSH-MBI group showed a significant reduction in depression, anxiety, and pregnancy-related anxiety symptoms. In addition, the scores of the digital GSH-MBI group were lower than in the control group for the three types of infant temperament at six weeks postpartum including quality of mood, distractibility, and adaptability.
Conclusions:
A digital GSH-MBI is effective in alleviating psychological distress among pregnant women and protecting infant outcomes. Clinical Trial: Chinese Clinical Trial Register (identifier: ChiCTR2000040717).
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