Implementing “Online Communities” for pregnant women in times of COVID-19 for the promotion of maternal well-being and mother-to-infant bonding: a pretest–posttest study

Abstract Background The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic elevated the risk for mental health problems in pregnant women, thereby increasing the risk for long-term negative consequences for mother and child well-being. There was an immediate need for easily accessible interventions for pr...

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Main Authors: Eva S. Potharst, Mirla A. Schaeffer, Cecile Gunning, Merith Cohen de Lara, Myrthe G. B. M. Boekhorst, Lianne P. Hulsbosch, Victor J. M. Pop, Sasja N. Duijff
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2022-05-01
Series:BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-022-04729-5
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author Eva S. Potharst
Mirla A. Schaeffer
Cecile Gunning
Merith Cohen de Lara
Myrthe G. B. M. Boekhorst
Lianne P. Hulsbosch
Victor J. M. Pop
Sasja N. Duijff
author_facet Eva S. Potharst
Mirla A. Schaeffer
Cecile Gunning
Merith Cohen de Lara
Myrthe G. B. M. Boekhorst
Lianne P. Hulsbosch
Victor J. M. Pop
Sasja N. Duijff
author_sort Eva S. Potharst
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic elevated the risk for mental health problems in pregnant women, thereby increasing the risk for long-term negative consequences for mother and child well-being. There was an immediate need for easily accessible interventions for pregnant women experiencing elevated levels of pandemic related stress. Methods A three-session intervention “Online Communities” (OC) was developed at the beginning of the Dutch lockdown, and implemented by a team of midwives and psychologists specialized in Infant Mental Health. Pretest (N = 34) and posttest (N = 17) measurements of depressive symptoms, worries about COVID-19 and worries in general, and mother-to-infant bonding were administered, as well as a posttest evaluation. Results At pretest, the OC group was compared to two reference groups of pregnant women from an ongoing pregnancy cohort study: a COVID-19 (N = 209) and pre-COVID-19 reference group (N = 297). OC participants had significantly more depressive symptoms than both reference groups, and less positive feelings of bonding than the COVID-19 but not the pre-COVID-19 reference group. Compared to pretest, significant decreases in depressive symptoms (with significantly less participants scoring above cut-off) and worries about COVID-19 (large effect sizes) and worries in general (moderate to large effect size) were found at posttest for the OC participants. No significant improvement was found in bonding. Participants rated the intervention positively. Conclusions The current study provides initial evidence supporting the idea that OC is a promising and readily accessible intervention for pregnant women experiencing stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and possibly also applicable to other stressors. Trial registration This intervention was registered in the Netherlands Trial Registration (registration number Trial NL8842 , registration date 18/08/2020).
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spelling doaj.art-71ea86f279904e0e9b2ea81507ee70b22022-12-22T00:23:17ZengBMCBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth1471-23932022-05-0122111210.1186/s12884-022-04729-5Implementing “Online Communities” for pregnant women in times of COVID-19 for the promotion of maternal well-being and mother-to-infant bonding: a pretest–posttest studyEva S. Potharst0Mirla A. Schaeffer1Cecile Gunning2Merith Cohen de Lara3Myrthe G. B. M. Boekhorst4Lianne P. Hulsbosch5Victor J. M. Pop6Sasja N. Duijff7Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of AmsterdamUvA Minds, Academic Outpatient (child and adolescent) Treatment Center of the University of AmsterdamInfant Mental Health Expertise Centre OuderKindLijnOutpatient Maternal Mental Health Practice Psyche en ZwangerschapDepartment of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Center of Research On Psychological and Somatic Disorders (CoRPS), Tilburg UniversityDepartment of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Center of Research On Psychological and Somatic Disorders (CoRPS), Tilburg UniversityDepartment of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Center of Research On Psychological and Somatic Disorders (CoRPS), Tilburg UniversityInfant Mental Health Expertise Centre OuderKindLijnAbstract Background The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic elevated the risk for mental health problems in pregnant women, thereby increasing the risk for long-term negative consequences for mother and child well-being. There was an immediate need for easily accessible interventions for pregnant women experiencing elevated levels of pandemic related stress. Methods A three-session intervention “Online Communities” (OC) was developed at the beginning of the Dutch lockdown, and implemented by a team of midwives and psychologists specialized in Infant Mental Health. Pretest (N = 34) and posttest (N = 17) measurements of depressive symptoms, worries about COVID-19 and worries in general, and mother-to-infant bonding were administered, as well as a posttest evaluation. Results At pretest, the OC group was compared to two reference groups of pregnant women from an ongoing pregnancy cohort study: a COVID-19 (N = 209) and pre-COVID-19 reference group (N = 297). OC participants had significantly more depressive symptoms than both reference groups, and less positive feelings of bonding than the COVID-19 but not the pre-COVID-19 reference group. Compared to pretest, significant decreases in depressive symptoms (with significantly less participants scoring above cut-off) and worries about COVID-19 (large effect sizes) and worries in general (moderate to large effect size) were found at posttest for the OC participants. No significant improvement was found in bonding. Participants rated the intervention positively. Conclusions The current study provides initial evidence supporting the idea that OC is a promising and readily accessible intervention for pregnant women experiencing stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and possibly also applicable to other stressors. Trial registration This intervention was registered in the Netherlands Trial Registration (registration number Trial NL8842 , registration date 18/08/2020).https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-022-04729-5PregnancyMaternal mental healthStressCOVID-19Online interventionPrenatal bonding
spellingShingle Eva S. Potharst
Mirla A. Schaeffer
Cecile Gunning
Merith Cohen de Lara
Myrthe G. B. M. Boekhorst
Lianne P. Hulsbosch
Victor J. M. Pop
Sasja N. Duijff
Implementing “Online Communities” for pregnant women in times of COVID-19 for the promotion of maternal well-being and mother-to-infant bonding: a pretest–posttest study
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Pregnancy
Maternal mental health
Stress
COVID-19
Online intervention
Prenatal bonding
title Implementing “Online Communities” for pregnant women in times of COVID-19 for the promotion of maternal well-being and mother-to-infant bonding: a pretest–posttest study
title_full Implementing “Online Communities” for pregnant women in times of COVID-19 for the promotion of maternal well-being and mother-to-infant bonding: a pretest–posttest study
title_fullStr Implementing “Online Communities” for pregnant women in times of COVID-19 for the promotion of maternal well-being and mother-to-infant bonding: a pretest–posttest study
title_full_unstemmed Implementing “Online Communities” for pregnant women in times of COVID-19 for the promotion of maternal well-being and mother-to-infant bonding: a pretest–posttest study
title_short Implementing “Online Communities” for pregnant women in times of COVID-19 for the promotion of maternal well-being and mother-to-infant bonding: a pretest–posttest study
title_sort implementing online communities for pregnant women in times of covid 19 for the promotion of maternal well being and mother to infant bonding a pretest posttest study
topic Pregnancy
Maternal mental health
Stress
COVID-19
Online intervention
Prenatal bonding
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-022-04729-5
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