Aim: The aim of this project was to examine the effects of haptonomy application and the mindfulness-based stress reduction program (MBSRP) on the psychological well-being levels, perceived stress, and fear of childbirth in primiparous women. Materials and Methods: This prospective, single-blind, randomized controlled study was conducted between January 1, 2024, and October 1, 2024. A total of 120 primiparous women (40: control group, 40: haptonomy group, and 40: MBSRP group) who volunteered to participate in the study were randomly assigned to three groups: the intervention group (haptonomy and MBSRP) and the control group. The haptonomy and MBSRP groups received individual and face-to-face interventions for 8 weeks. At baseline, the 4th week, and the 8th week, the "Personal Data Collection Form," "Psychological Well-Being Scale," "Perceived Stress Scale," and "Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ/A) A version" were administered, based on a literature review.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
40
The session transitioned to energy work and dream visualization. The researcher and the pregnant participant placed their left hands on each other's hearts. The goal was for the participants to feel the energy flowing between them, sense their hearts, open their third eye, and prepare their hands. This exercise aimed to enhance the pregnant participant's confidence in her own emotions and body by recognizing her feelings and physical sensations. Next, the researcher and the pregnant participant placed their right hands on the participant's forehead and their left hands over their hearts. This positioning facilitated the pregnant participant in visually sensing the presence of her baby. It was intended to promote communication between the mother and her baby at both a physical and spiritual level.
Participants were introduced to each other and provided with information related to pregnancy. The Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program (MBSR) was introduced. The participants shared their levels of well-being, stress, coping mechanisms for fear of childbirth, and their expectations from the MBSR program. Awareness of habitual behaviors was facilitated. Afterwards, breath-focused meditation and dried fruit meditation were practiced. Participants were encouraged to maintain awareness of activities performed at any time during the day. Lastly, body scan meditation was taught, and participants were instructed to repeat the practice throughout the week using audio recordings.
Bartın University
Bartın, Turkey (Türkiye)
Psychological Well-Being Scale
The Psychological Well-Being Scale, developed, consists of eight items aimed at measuring psychological well-being levels. The internal consistency coefficient of the scale is 0.87. The Turkish adaptation of the Psychological Well-Being Scale was conducted, who found the internal consistency coefficient to be 0.87 as well. The scale is rated on a 1-7 point scale, with higher scores indicating that the individual possesses psychological strengths.
Time frame: change from starting to 4. and 8. week
Perceived Stress Scale
The Perceived Stress Scale, consisting of 14 items, was developed to measure the degree to which individuals perceive certain situations in their lives as stressful. The scale is assessed using a 5-point Likert-type scoring system, ranging from 0 to 4. It comprises two factors: 'perception of stress/discomfort' and 'perception of inadequacy.' The scale allows for a maximum score of 56 and a minimum score of 0, with scores increasing as stress levels rise. The validity and reliability of the scale were established. The Turkish version of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14) has an internal consistency coefficient of 0.84 and a test-retest reliability coefficient of 0.87.
Time frame: change from starting to 4. and 8. week
Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Scale (W-DEQ) Version A
The scale, consists of 33 items. Responses to the items are rated on a scale from 0 to 5, utilizing a six-point Likert-type format. The maximum score attainable on the scale is 165, while the minimum is 0. A higher total score indicates a greater level of fear. Specifically, a scale score of 85 or above reflects clinical levels of birth fear, scores between 66 and 84 indicate severe fear, scores between 38 and 65 denote moderate fear, and scores of 37 and below signify mild levels of birth fear. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the scale is found to be 0.88 for first-time mothers (primiparous) and 0.90 for mothers who have given birth before (multiparous).
Time frame: change from starting to 4. and 8. week
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