A Shift Toward Childbearing In One-Child Families Through a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Mojgan Malekpoorafshar; Parvin Salehinejad; Fatemeh Pouya; Noshiravan  Khezri Moghadam; Armita Shahesmaeili

doi:10.18502/jfrh.v15i1.6070

Mojgan Malekpoorafshar Department of Midwifery, Razi School of Nursing and Midwifery, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Parvin Salehinejad Department of Midwifery, Razi School of Nursing and Midwifery, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Fatemeh Pouya Neuroscience Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Noshiravan Khezri Moghadam Department of Psychology, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
Armita Shahesmaeili World Health Organization Collaborating Center for HIV Surveillance Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jfrh.v15i1.6070

Keywords: Reproductive behavior; Fear; Pregnancy; Anxiety; Mindfulness

Abstract

Objective: Fertility patterns are a key to the estimation of future population size, but they are restricted by serious indecision. One-child families are one of these patterns that is caused by a set of factors and one of these factors is the fear of re-pregnancy. In this regard, this study aimed to use a mindfulnessbased stress reduction (MBSR) program to reduce the fear of women who have been experiencing anxiety after their first pregnancy and delivery.

Materials and methods: This interventional study was conducted on 67 one-child women, who at least 6 years have been passed since the birth of their child and according to the short form of the Pregnancy Related Anxiety Questionnaire (PRAQ-17), have been experienced anxiety. These women were randomly divided into control and intervention groups. For the intervention group, the MBSR program was conducted in 8 sessions, once every week, each session lasting 2.5 hours. At the end of the program, a second PRAQ-17 was completed by both groups.

Results: The findings showed that the MBSR approach in the intervention group significantly decreased the anxiety score in total (p=0.001) and individually in all subcategories.

Conclusion: The MBSR approach can reduce the anxiety of one-child women who have experienced anxiety after their pregnancy and childbirth. Thus, using this method in helping women with pregnancyrelated anxiety is recommended to increase the birth rate.