Feasibility and Acceptability of a Mindfulness-Based Smartphone App among Pregnant Women with Obesity

Kerrie Ward, Anjali Herekar, Peiyi Wang and Karen L. Lindsay ()
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Kerrie Ward: School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, 1001 Health Sciences Road, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
Anjali Herekar: School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, 1001 Health Sciences Road, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
Peiyi Wang: Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, 4201 Social and Behavioral Sciences Gateway, Irvine, CA 92617, USA
Karen L. Lindsay: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, 3800 Chapman Ave. Suite 2200, Orange, CA 92868, USA

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 7, 1-9

Abstract: Maternal obesity is associated with an increased risk for prenatal depressive symptoms. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been shown to reduce the risk of prenatal depression. This pilot study assesses the feasibility and acceptability of a smartphone-based MBI among pregnant women with obesity, and its potential for improving maternal mental and behavioral health outcomes. Five second-trimester pregnant women with a prepregnancy body mass index > 30 kg/m 2 participated in a 30-day audio-guided mindfulness practice using the Headspace app. All participants engaged in the pregnancy module, while three concurrently engaged in the mindful eating module. Daily engagement with the app was tracked and a post-trial survey assessed maternal acceptability. Validated pre- and post-trial questionnaires explored changes in perceived stress, anxiety, depression, and eating habits. All participants completed the study with varying levels of adherence to the prescribed daily practice; the average number of days of engagement was 23/30 (77%) for the pregnancy module and 20/30 (67%) for the mindful eating module. All subjects reported some degree of perceived benefit, and none reported negative experiences. Trends were observed for improvements in maternal mental wellbeing and eating behaviors. This pilot study shows that a smartphone-based MBI is feasible, acceptable, and perceived to provide benefit among pregnant women with obesity.

Keywords: mindfulness; obesity; prenatal depression; eating behaviors; pregnancy; maternal wellbeing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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