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. 2023 Jun;30(2):387-402.
doi: 10.1007/s10880-022-09902-8. Epub 2022 Aug 19.

Mindfulness and Relaxation-Based Interventions to Reduce Parental Stress, Anxiety and/or Depressive Symptoms in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Systematic Review

Kristin Harrison Ginsberg  1 , Jane Alsweiler  2 , Mohsen Alyami  3 , Anna Serlachius  3
Affiliations

Mindfulness and Relaxation-Based Interventions to Reduce Parental Stress, Anxiety and/or Depressive Symptoms in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Systematic Review

Kristin Harrison Ginsberg et al. J Clin Psychol Med Settings. 2023 Jun.

Abstract

Parents with infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) experience high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. Mindfulness and relaxation-based interventions are effective in reducing distress in the general postpartum population. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate whether mindfulness and/or relaxation-based interventions reduce stress, anxiety, and depression in NICU parents. A total of five studies met the inclusion criteria and were assessed for quality using the Downs & Black Checklist. The most consistent results in this review suggest that mindfulness and/or relaxation-based interventions may be effective at reducing anxiety symptoms in NICU parents, with moderate to large effect sizes, and show promise in reducing depressive symptoms. The findings show limited potential benefits on parental stress. Methodological weaknesses, heterogeneous intervention factors (including format and length), and varying participant adherence hinder the ability to make strong conclusions. Directions for future research are discussed.

Keywords: Mindfulness; NICU; Parents; Relaxation; Stress.

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Conflict of interest statement

Authors Kristin Harrison Ginsberg, Jane Alsweiler, Mohsen Alyami, and Anna Serlachius declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Study selection flow chart
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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