A randomized, controlled trial of the influence of prenatal parenting education on postpartum anxiety and marital adjustment

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to measure the impact of two middle-trimester parenting communication classes on postpartum anxiety, marital adjustment, and postpartum adjustment.

Methods: Seventy primiparous, low-risk couples enrolled in prenatal classes in a large urban hospital were randomized to experimental and control groups. An educational intervention consisting of two second-trimester classes was facilitated by two social workers. The classes were based on a previous assessment of the educational needs of postpartum couples and contained didactic sessions, role-playing sessions, and values clarification exercises. The Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale were administered to both groups prenatally in the second trimester and at 6 weeks and 6 months postpartum. A modified version of the O'Hara Postpartum Adjustment Questionnaire was administered at 6 weeks and 6 months postpartum.

Results: Both groups scored comparably in the prenatal period. The experimental group scored significantly lower on anxiety and higher on dyadic adjustment at both postpartum time periods than the control group. The experimental group also indicated a higher degree of postpartum adjustment.

Conclusion: Prenatal parenting communication classes had a significant impact on postpartum anxiety, postpartum marital satisfaction, and postpartum adjustment.