A Supported Online Resilience-Enhancing Intervention for Pregnant Women: A Non-Randomized Pilot Study

Sarah Van Haeken (), Marijke Anne Katrien Alberta Braeken, Anne Groenen and Annick Bogaerts
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Sarah Van Haeken: Research & Expertise, Expertise Centre Resilient People, University Colleges Leuven-Limburg (UCLL), 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
Marijke Anne Katrien Alberta Braeken: REVAL-Rehabilitation Research Center, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hasselt University, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
Anne Groenen: Research & Expertise, Expertise Centre Resilient People, University Colleges Leuven-Limburg (UCLL), 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
Annick Bogaerts: REALIFE Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Development & Regeneration, Women & Child KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 2, 1-17

Abstract: A 28-week supported online intervention for pregnant women, informed by the Behavior Change Wheel Framework, was developed. The intervention included exercises, group sessions and a peer support platform. The aim of this study was to examine the potential effectiveness of the intervention in enhancing resilience and promoting maternal mental health. Using a quasi-experimental design, assessments were conducted at baseline, postintervention and follow-ups at six and 12 months after childbirth. Resilience, resilience attributes, and maternal mental health were measured using standardised scales. The intervention group received the intervention ( N = 70), while the control group ( N = 32) received care-as-usual. A repeated-measures ANOVA was used to determine within- and between-group changes. Results showed no significant differences between groups regarding resilience and maternal mental health. However, the intervention group demonstrated stable resilience ( p = 0.320) compared to a significant decrease in the control group ( p = 0.004). Within the intervention group, perceived social support remained stable during the intervention, but decreased significantly at the first follow-up ( p = 0.012). All participants faced additional stress from the COVID-19 pandemic alongside the challenges of parenthood. This study contributes to maternal mental health literature with an innovative, supported online intervention. The intervention consists of different deployable components, designed to be offered online, and the current pilot data are promising. Further research is warranted to explore its full potential in clinical practice.

Keywords: resilience; pregnancy; postpartum; perinatal; maternal mental health; COVID-19; online intervention (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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