The Research Desk
Digital and hybrid psychological interventions reduced depression, anxiety, and stress in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Psychological interventions to improve maternal mental health and resilience during pregnancy in the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review.
- Resilience
- Mindfulness
Soultanopoulos, G., Idzenga, J., Kamperman, A., van Pampus, M., Ket, J., Henrichs, J., Verhoeven, C.
In plain language
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted routine mental health care, leaving many pregnant women to face increased psychological distress without adequate support. This systematic review evaluates various psychological interventions aimed at improving mental health and resilience among pregnant women during this challenging time. Interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and psychoeducation were adapted for digital and hybrid formats to maintain accessibility during the pandemic.
The review found that these interventions generally helped reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, while some also enhanced resilience-related factors. Despite these positive outcomes, the studies reviewed had varying levels of methodological quality, with inconsistent outcome measures and limited follow-up, indicating the need for further research in this area.
Key findings
- Psychological interventions during pregnancy reduced depression, anxiety, and stress.
- Some interventions improved resilience-related factors in pregnant women.
- Interventions were adapted for digital or hybrid delivery to ensure accessibility.
- The methodological quality of studies was modest, with heterogeneous outcome measures.
- There is a need for larger, more rigorous trials with standardized outcomes.
Why it matters
This research highlights the potential of psychological interventions to support maternal mental health and resilience during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, when traditional mental health care may be less accessible.
Try this today
Pregnant women facing stress or anxiety can benefit from engaging in digital or hybrid psychological interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy or mindfulness practices. Health care providers should consider integrating these accessible approaches into maternal care plans, especially during times when in-person support is limited.