MAternal Mental Health in the WORKplace (MAMH@WORK): A Protocol for Promoting Perinatal Maternal Mental Health and Wellbeing

Joana Costa, Osvaldo Santos, Ana Virgolino, M. Emília Pereira, Miodraga Stefanovska-Petkovska, Henrique Silva, Paulo Navarro-Costa, Miguel Barbosa, Rui César das Neves, Inês Duarte e Silva, Violeta Alarcão, Ricardo Vargas and Maria João Heitor
Additional contact information
Joana Costa: EnviHeB Lab., Instituto de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
Osvaldo Santos: EnviHeB Lab., Instituto de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
Ana Virgolino: EnviHeB Lab., Instituto de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
M. Emília Pereira: Centro Hospitalar Psiquiátrico de Lisboa, 1749-002 Lisboa, Portugal
Miodraga Stefanovska-Petkovska: EnviHeB Lab., Instituto de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
Henrique Silva: Pharmacol. Sc Depart, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
Paulo Navarro-Costa: Instituto de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
Miguel Barbosa: Instituto de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
Rui César das Neves: CAST—Consultoria e Aplicações em Sistemas e Tecnologia, Lda., 1800-075 Lisboa, Portugal
Inês Duarte e Silva: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa (FMUL), 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
Violeta Alarcão: EnviHeB Lab., Instituto de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
Ricardo Vargas: Consulting House, 1600-477 Lisboa, Portugal
Maria João Heitor: Instituto de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 5, 1-18

Abstract: Women are exposed to increased burden of mental disorders during the perinatal period: 13–19% experience postpartum depression. Perinatal psychological suffering affects early mother-child relationship, impacting child’s emotional and cognitive development. Return-to-work brings additional vulnerability given the required balance between parenting and job demands. The MAternal Mental Health in the WORKplace (MAMH@WORK) project aims to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a brief and sustainable intervention, promoting (a) maternal mental health throughout pregnancy and first 12 months after delivery, and (b) quality of mother–child interactions, child emotional self-regulation, and cognitive self-control, while (c) reducing perinatal absenteeism and presenteeism. MAMH@WORK is a three-arm randomized controlled trial. A short-term cognitive-behavioral therapy-based (CBT-based) psychoeducation plus biofeedback intervention will be implemented by psychiatrists and psychologists, following a standardized procedure manual developed after consensus (Delphi method). Participants ( n = 225, primiparous, singleton pregnant women at 28–30 weeks gestational age, aged 18–40 years, employed) will be randomly allocated to arms: CBT-based psychoeducation intervention (including mindfulness); psychoeducation plus biofeedback intervention; and control. Assessments will take place before and after delivery. Main outcomes (and main tools): mental health literacy (MHLS), psychological wellbeing (HADS, EPDS, KBS, CD-RISC, BRIEF COPE), quality of mother–child interaction, child–mother attachment, child emotional self-regulation and cognitive self-control (including PBQ, Strange Situation Procedure, QDIBRB, SGS-II, CARE-Index), job engagement (UWES), and presenteeism. Intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses will be conducted; Cohen’s d coefficient, Cramer’s V and odds ratio will be used to assess the effect size of the intervention. MAMH@WORK is expected to contribute to mental health promotion during the perinatal period and beyond. Its results have the potential to inform health policies regarding work–life balance and maternal mental health and wellbeing promotion in the workplace.

Keywords: biofeedback; cognitive self-control; emotional self-regulation; mental health literacy; perinatal psychological wellbeing; postpartum depression; program evaluation; psychoeducation; work–life balance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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