The Effect of Awareness-Based Stress Reduction Training on Preeclampsia and Anxiety

Overview

Preeclampsia is a multisystem disease that occurs during pregnancy and carries risks into the postpartum period. This condition, which threatens maternal and fetal health, requires close monitoring and good care. Pregnant women need to rely on both their previously used coping mechanisms and learn new coping methods to manage the stress associated with high-risk pregnancies. Complementary and integrative therapies are utilized in managing hypertensive disorders and anxiety during pregnancy. Literature reviews show that complementary medicine practices included in current care may be effective in alleviating the symptoms of preeclampsia and reducing anxiety levels. However, the existing scientific studies are not at a sufficient level of evidence, and more advanced studies are needed in this area. The aim of our thesis study is to examine the effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction training on anxiety levels and physiological parameters in pregnant women diagnosed with preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia is a condition characterized by hypertension and proteinuria that occurs after the 20th week of pregnancy. The anxiety and fear experienced by pregnant women diagnosed with preeclampsia about their own and their baby's well-being lead to an increase in anxiety levels. Mindfulness has been defined as the awareness of one's present-moment experience, accompanied by an attitude of kindness, friendliness, and non-judgmental acceptance . Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a clinical program that provides systematic training in mindfulness meditation as a self-regulation approach to facilitate adjustment to medical conditions, reduce stress, and manage emotions. In a study conducted to determine the effect of mindfulness training on lowering blood pressure in preeclamptic women, a decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure was observed. A study examining the effects of mindfulness training on maternal anxiety and self-efficacy in relation to childbirth found that anxiety levels decreased in pregnant women, and it was recommended that healthcare providers and pregnant women participate in mindfulness programs to improve pregnancy outcomes and childbirth. It has been determined that mindfulness-based interventions during pregnancy can be beneficial for outcomes such as anxiety, depression, perceived stress, and mindfulness levels in the perinatal period. Mindfulness-based training for the psychological health of pregnant women has been reported to significantly reduce perceived stress and depression, while increasing mindfulness and self-efficacy in women. Mindfulness-based stress reduction training aimed at examining its effects on stress, anxiety, and prenatal attachment in high-risk pregnancies was found to reduce anxiety, increase prenatal attachment, and have no effect on stress levels in pregnant women . A meta-analysis examining the effects of diet, exercise, yoga, and mindfulness practices during pregnancy to prevent hypertensive disorders found that these lifestyle interventions reduced the incidence of hypertension in pregnancy. The aim of our thesis study is to examine the effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction training on anxiety levels and physiological parameters in pregnant women diagnosed with preeclampsia.