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Effectiveness of “Mom Supports Mom” Peer Support Intervention in Reducing Prenatal Anxiety and Psychosocial Stress Levels

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 August 2024

K. Hrdličková ,
A. Horáková ,
M. Kuklová ,
H. Němcová ,
P. Knytl ,
L. Kostýlková  and
A. Šebela
K. Hrdličková*
Affiliation:
1National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany 2Faculty of Arts, Department of Psychology
A. Horáková
Affiliation:
1National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany 3First Faculty of Medicine
M. Kuklová
Affiliation:
1National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany 4Faculty of Science, Department of Demography and Geodemography 5Second Faculty of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology
H. Němcová
Affiliation:
1National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany 2Faculty of Arts, Department of Psychology
P. Knytl
Affiliation:
1National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany 6Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
L. Kostýlková
Affiliation:
1National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany 6Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
A. Šebela
Affiliation:
1National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany 6Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

The prenatal period poses a risk of both onset and relapse of mental health difficulties. Anxiety and depressive symptoms are the most common, with a prevalence of 10-20%. Untreated mental health difficulties can have serious consequences for the child’s development, the quality of the mother-child relationship, and the whole family system. Peer support can be an effective form of care for women at risk.

Objectives

The aim of the study is to examine the effectivness of remote “Mom Supports Mom” peer support intervention in reducing prenatal anxiety, depression and psychosocial stress levels.

Methods

A randomized controlled trial was conducted. The Edinburg Postnatal Depression scale (EPDS) was used to assess the risk of mental health difficulties in pregnant women. Women with EPDS score ≥ 10 were randomized 1:1 to control and intervention groups. The intervention group received the “Mom Supports Mom” peer support intervention. The control group received care as usual. Between group-differences in anxiety, depression and psychosocial stress levels were measured one month after the enrollment/the start of the intervention. The Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale (PASS), the Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and the Prenatal Psychosocial Profile (PPP) were used to assess the mental health difficulties.

Results

The study involved a total of 67 participants in the intervention group, and 77 participants in the control group. Levels of anxiety (U = 2016, P < 0.05) and psychosocial stress (U = 1862, P = 0.001) were significantly decreased in the intervention group, showing a medium effect size of the intervention (Cliff’s delta= -0.218 and -0.317, respectively). There was no significant difference in depression levels (U = 2288.5, P = 0.243; Cliff’s delta = -0.113); see Table 1.Table 1

Between group differences in study outcomes (n=144)

Measuring instrumentsIntervention group (n=67) Median (IQR)Intervention group 95% Confidence IntervalControl group (n=77) Median (IQR)Control group 95% Confidence IntervalU value / t valuep-value
EPDS (pre)13 (4)12.513.913 (4)12.814.22429.50.545
PASS (pre)36 (17)32.038.036 (15)34.039.50.8460.399
PPP (pre)18 (4)17.820.317 (6)16.918.82282.50.233
EPDS (dif)-6 (6)-6.7-4.1-5 (6)-5.4-3.02288.50.243
PASS (dif)-7 (11)-12.3-6.8-5 (13)-7.3-2.420160.024
PPP (dif)-2 (4)-4.0-1.60 (4)-1.20.518620.001

EPDS = Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale

PASS = Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale

PPP = Prenatal Psychosocial Profile

pre = administered at baseline

dif = administered post-intervention

IQR = interquartile range

Conclusions

The remote “Mom Supports Mom” peer support intervention can be effective in reducing anxiety and psychosocial stress levels in at-risk pregnant women. Nevertheless, it didn’t show effectivness in reducing depression levels.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

Type
Abstract
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 67 , Special Issue S1: Abstracts of the 32nd European Congress of Psychiatry , April 2024 , pp. S197
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of European Psychiatric Association
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