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Brief Online Self-help Exercises for Postnatal Women to Improve Mood: A Pilot Study

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Abstract

Objectives

Giving birth and adjusting to a new baby can be difficult and stressful for new mothers. Negative mood may occur during this time and can affect women, their parenting and the infant’s development. This pilot study evaluated a brief online self-help intervention designed to promote positive mood in mothers of babies and toddlers.

Methods

Women in the UK who had given birth within the previous 18 months were randomly allocated to the online self-help intervention (n = 40) or active comparison group exercise (n = 40) which was matched for time and structure. Mood was measured before and after the intervention. Acceptability was examined at the end of the trial.

Results

The self-help intervention was acceptable to the majority of women and significantly increased positive mood compared to the comparison condition. This effect persisted after controlling for self-esteem, anxiety and depression. These results suggest that a simple self-help intervention focused on changing beliefs about oneself as a mother can have an immediate impact on women’s mood.

Conclusions for Practice

Further research is need to see whether these improvements continue long-term and what processes underlie these improvements.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. City University London, London, UK

    Susan Ayers

  2. The Rowan’s Hospice, Waterlooville, Hampshire, UK

    Gemima Fitzgerald

  3. Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research, School of Health Sciences, City University London, Northampton Square, London, EC1V 0HB, UK

    Susan Thompson

Authors
  1. Susan Ayers
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  2. Gemima Fitzgerald
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  3. Susan Thompson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Susan Thompson.

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Ayers, S., Fitzgerald, G. & Thompson, S. Brief Online Self-help Exercises for Postnatal Women to Improve Mood: A Pilot Study. Matern Child Health J 19, 2375–2383 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-015-1755-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-015-1755-5

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