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Potharst ES, Veringa-Skiba I, van Broekhuizen E, Bögels SM. Mindful with your baby for mothers of infants with (parental) stress in a non-clinical setting: a wait-list controlled pilot trial. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2022; 22:298. [PMID: 35392847 PMCID: PMC8991950 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-022-04640-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Because of the far-reaching negative consequences of high levels of (parental) stress for the mother, infant, the mother-infant relationship, and family functioning, psychological support for young mothers is important. Mindful with Your Baby is a mindfulness-based intervention, originally developed and evaluated in a clinical population of mothers with mental health issues and/or babies with regulation problems. The current pilot examines whether Mindful with Your Baby for mothers with symptoms of (parental) stress offered in a non-clinical setting is also effective and acceptable. Methods In this pilot waitlist-controlled trial, 17 mothers with infants (2–15 months) admitted themselves for a Mindful with Your Baby training in a non-clinical setting because of (parental) stress. Mindful with Your Baby was offered in groups of three to six mother-infant dyads and consisted of eight weekly 2-h sessions. Participants completed questionnaires on symptoms of parental stress, general stress, depression, anxiety, mindfulness and self-compassion at 8-week waitlist, pretest, posttest and 8-week follow-up. Results There were no training drop-outs, attendance rate was 92.5%, and the training was evaluated positively: all mothers (100%) felt they got something of lasting importance as a result of taking the training, and reported becoming more conscious as a parent, and 93% reported changing their lifestyle or parenting as a result of the training. Multilevel analyses showed no significant changes between waitlist and pretest. At posttest, a significant improvement occurred in all outcome measures compared to pretest, of moderate to large effect sizes. At follow-up, a significant improvement was seen compared to pretest in all outcomes except anxiety compared to pretest, of small to moderate effect sizes. Conclusions Mindful with Your Baby appears an acceptable and effective intervention for mothers with a baby who experience (parental) stress but who have not been referred to specialized mental health care. A low threshold access to Mindful with Your Baby in non-clinical settings could provide a timely and positive interference in (parental) stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Sophie Potharst
- Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 127, 1018 WS, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. .,Academic Outpatient (child and adolescent) Treatment Center, UvA Minds, University of Amsterdam, Banstraat 29, 1071 JW, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Irena Veringa-Skiba
- Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 127, 1018 WS, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Esther van Broekhuizen
- Academic Outpatient (child and adolescent) Treatment Center, UvA Minds, University of Amsterdam, Banstraat 29, 1071 JW, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Susan Maria Bögels
- Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 127, 1018 WS, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Developmental Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 129-B, 1018 WS, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Bauer I, Hartkopf J, Wikström AK, Schaal NK, Preissl H, Derntl B, Schleger F. Acute relaxation during pregnancy leads to a reduction in maternal electrodermal activity and self-reported stress levels. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2021; 21:628. [PMID: 34535120 PMCID: PMC8447712 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-021-04099-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal maternal stress can have adverse effects on birth outcomes and fetal development. Relaxation techniques have been examined as potential countermeasures. This study investigates different relaxation techniques and their effect on self-reported stress levels and physiological stress levels in pregnant women. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, 38 pregnant women in their 30th to 40th gestational week were assigned to one of three, 20-min lasting relaxation groups: listening to music (N = 12), following a guided imagery (N = 12) or resting (N = 12). The intervention, i.e., acute relaxation (music, guided imagery or resting) took place once for each study participant. Study inclusion criteria were age over 18 years, German speaking, singleton and uncomplicated pregnancy during the 30th and 40th week of gestation. The stress levels were determined during the study. Current stress level during the study was assessed by a visual analogue scale. Chronic stress levels were assessed by the Trier Inventory of Chronic Stress and the Pregnancy Distress questionnaire. Multivariate analyses of covariance were performed and dependent measures included stress levels as well as physiological measures, i.e., cardiovascular activity (electrocardiogram) and skin conductance levels. RESULTS All three forms of relaxation led to reduced maternal stress which manifested itself in significantly decreased skin conductance, F(3,94) = 18.011, p = .001, ηp2 = .365, and subjective stress levels after the interventions with no significant group difference. Post-intervention stress ratings were further affected by gestational age, with less subjective relaxation in women later in gestation, F (1, 34)=4.971, p = .032, ηp2 = .128. CONCLUSION Independent of relaxation technique, single, 20-min relaxation intervention (music, guided imagery or resting) can significantly reduce maternal stress. Notably, women at an earlier stage in their pregnancy reported higher relaxation after the intervention than women later in gestation. Hence, gestational age may influence perceived stress levels and should be considered when evaluating relaxation or stress management interventions during pregnancy. TRIAL REGISTRATION Not applicable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilena Bauer
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD e.V.), fMEG-Center, Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases of the Helmholtz Center Munich/ fMEG Center, University of Tuebingen, Otfried-Müller-Strasse 47, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany.
| | - Julia Hartkopf
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD e.V.), fMEG-Center, Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases of the Helmholtz Center Munich/ fMEG Center, University of Tuebingen, Otfried-Müller-Strasse 47, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Anna-Karin Wikström
- Department of Women's and Children's health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Nora K Schaal
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich-Heine-University, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Hubert Preissl
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD e.V.), fMEG-Center, Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases of the Helmholtz Center Munich/ fMEG Center, University of Tuebingen, Otfried-Müller-Strasse 47, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany.,Department of Internal Medicine IV, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetology, and Nephrology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Birgit Derntl
- Department for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Tuebingen Center for Mental Health (TüCMH), University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.,LEAD Graduate School & Research Network, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Franziska Schleger
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD e.V.), fMEG-Center, Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases of the Helmholtz Center Munich/ fMEG Center, University of Tuebingen, Otfried-Müller-Strasse 47, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
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Studying caregiver-infant co-regulation in dynamic, diverse cultural contexts: A call to action. Infant Behav Dev 2021; 64:101586. [PMID: 34118652 DOI: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2021.101586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Caregivers and infants co-regulate their physiology, emotions, and behavior in a way that is dynamically responsive to each other and the contexts in which they live. This paper is an introduction and call to action for researchers interested in understanding how to study caregiver-infant interactions in the home and diverse cultural contexts, including marginalized communities. We argue that research will be more valid, culturally relevant, and tapped-in to the daily lives of caregivers and infants if there is partnership and collaboration with the caregivers in the design of the questions, data collection and analysis, and distribution of the findings. We recommend dynamically assessing emotions, behaviors, and physiology using repeated sampling methods including ecological momentary assessments (EMA), salivary bioscience, and actigraphy. We aim to extend current practices of studying caregiver-infant co-regulation by measuring fluctuations of daily life and considering sociocultural factors that shape naturalistic caregiver-infant interactions. Using methodological advancements and community-based participatory research approaches can enable developmental scientists to measure life as it is actually lived.
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Abstract
(1) Background: High stress levels during pregnancy can affect the organogenesis and the foetus’ central nervous system maturation. The objective of this study was to determine whether a relationship between maternal stress during pregnancy and alterations in child neurodevelopment exists; (2) Methods: A bibliographical review was carried out following PRISMA Methodology and using Scopus, Web of Science and Cinahl databases. The research questions were made using PEO methodology (Participants, Exposition, Outcomes). Moreover, article quality was measured using the Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies; (3) Results: 22 articles that fit the inclusion criteria were selected. Different elements altered because of maternal stress during pregnancy could side with alterations in different areas of the neurodevelopment, such as cognitive development, motor development, behaviour, temperament, memory and learning abilities; (4) Conclusions: Although maternal stress can have an influence on children’s neurodevelopment, it is still unknown which are the specific elements related to this stress that can modify it negatively. Furthermore, future studies should evaluate whether a sex-specific association exists.
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