HAPPY MAMA Project (Part 2)—Maternal Distress and Self-Efficacy: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Field Trial

Alice Mannocci, Sara Ciavardini, Federica Mattioli, Azzurra Massimi, Valeria D’Egidio, Lorenza Lia, Franca Scaglietta, Andrea Giannini, Roberta Antico, Barbara Dorelli, Alessandro Svelato, Luigi Orfeo, Pierluigi Benedetti Panici, Antonio Ragusa, Giuseppe La Torre and MAMA Group Happy
Additional contact information
Alice Mannocci: Faculty of Economics, Mercatorum University, 00186 Rome, Italy
Sara Ciavardini: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
Federica Mattioli: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
Azzurra Massimi: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
Valeria D’Egidio: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
Lorenza Lia: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
Franca Scaglietta: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
Andrea Giannini: Department of Maternal and Child Health and Urological Sciences, Umberto I Teaching Hospital, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
Roberta Antico: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
Barbara Dorelli: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
Alessandro Svelato: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, San Giovanni Calibita Fatebenefratelli Hospital, 00186 Rome, Italy
Luigi Orfeo: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, “San Giovanni Calibita” Fatebenefratelli, 00186 Rome, Italy
Pierluigi Benedetti Panici: Department of Maternal and Child Health and Urological Sciences, Umberto I Teaching Hospital, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
Antonio Ragusa: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, San Giovanni Calibita Fatebenefratelli Hospital, 00186 Rome, Italy
Giuseppe La Torre: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
MAMA Group Happy: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 3, 1-15

Abstract: Introduction: The aim of the pilot randomized controlled field trial is to assess if a midwifery intervention is able to increase the maternal self-efficacy and reduce the stress level during the first six months after birth. Methods: The study was conducted in two different hospitals in Rome, Italy, involving women delivering at or beyond term, aged >18 years old and with normal APGAR scores of the infant. The participants were randomly divided into two groups: “ Individual Intervention Group ” (they received home midwifery assistance for one month after birth, I) and the “ Control Group ” (C). A self-administered questionnaire was administered four times: at the baseline about one week after the hospital delivery (T0), after the intervention about one month after the delivery (T1), and at three months (T2) and at six months after birth (T3). The questionnaire included different validated scales needed to assess maternal perceived self-efficacy (KPCS), parental stress scale stress (PSS) and maternal depressive risk symptoms (EPDS). Results: The study population counted 51 mothers: 28 women in the “C” group and 23 women in the “I” group. The PSS score was statistically higher in the “C” than “I” group at T1 ( p = 0.024); whereas the KPCS score was statistically higher in the “I” ( p = 0.039) group; EPDS score did not show significant difference between the two groups in the follow-up period. An inverse significant correlation between KPCS and PSS was found during the study window time ( p < 0.0001). Conclusions: These results potentially give the opportunity to explore this area of focus further, in order to better address maternal individual needs for the successful transition to motherhood. More research in this area is required.

Keywords: self-efficacy; mindfulness; stress; post-partum; newborn; mother-infant; maternal behavior; mother-infant interaction; maternal parenting stress; maternal support (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
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