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BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 1/2020

Open Access 01-12-2020 | Mood Disorders | Research article

Effectiveness of a psycho-educational intervention for expecting parents to prevent postpartum parenting stress, depression and anxiety: a randomized controlled trial

Authors: Marjolein Missler, Annemieke van Straten, Jaap Denissen, Tara Donker, Roseriet Beijers

Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth | Issue 1/2020

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Abstract

Background

The first months postpartum can be challenging for parents, leading to elevated symptoms of parenting stress, depression and anxiety. In turn, distressed parents are at higher risk for providing suboptimal quality of caregiving. As psychoeducational interventions can be effective in reducing psychological distress, the goal of this randomized controlled trial was to examine the effectiveness of low-intensity universal psychoeducational program to prevent postpartum parenting stress, and to enhance parental well-being and caregiving quality.

Method

Between 26 and 34 weeks of pregnancy, 138 pregnant women and 96 partners were randomized to the intervention or a waitlist control group. The intervention consisted of a booklet, a video, a home visit, and a telephone call. Information was provided on (1) sensitive responsiveness, adapting to the parental role, and attending to own needs; (2) crying patterns; (3) feeding (arrangements); and (4) sleeping (arrangements). The primary outcome was parenting stress postpartum. Secondary outcomes were additional measures of distress (depression and anxiety), parental well-being, and caregiving quality.

Results

Both groups showed a rise in distress after birth. No between-group differences were observed on parenting stress, nor on the secondary outcomes. The intervention was rated as useful and of added value by the parents.

Conclusion

This study offered no evidence that our universal prevention program was effective in decreasing parental distress or in increasing caregiving quality. However, parents found aspects of the intervention useful. More research is needed, including a longer period of follow-up as well as observational measures of parents’ responsiveness.

Trial registration

This trial has been registered on 15 September 2016 in the Netherlands National Trial Register, ID: NTR6065, https://​www.​trialregister.​nl/​trial/​5782.
Footnotes
1
At t2, one questionnaire measuring delivery characteristics was sent to both parents. One of the parents could fill in this questionnaire. For all participating fathers, a questionnaire was returned at t2 (but not necessarily filled in by the father).
 
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Metadata
Title
Effectiveness of a psycho-educational intervention for expecting parents to prevent postpartum parenting stress, depression and anxiety: a randomized controlled trial
Authors
Marjolein Missler
Annemieke van Straten
Jaap Denissen
Tara Donker
Roseriet Beijers
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2393
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-03341-9

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