Building Emotional Awareness and Mental Health (BEAM): an open-pilot and feasibility study of a digital mental health and parenting intervention for mothers of infants

Pilot and Feasibility Studies

Research

Catherine Lebel¹  Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen²  Makayla Freeman²  Anna MacKinnon³  E. Bailin Xie⁴  Gerald F. Giesbrecht⁵  Shannon Sauer-Zavala⁶  Kristin Reynolds⁷  Lara Penner-Goeke⁷  Leslie E. Roos⁸  Charlie Rioux⁹ 

[1] Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), Calgary, AB, Canada;Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada;Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada;Department of Psychiatry and Addictology, Université de Montréal, QC, Montréal, Canada;CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada;Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada;Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada;Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), Calgary, AB, Canada;Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada;Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA;Department of Psychology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada;Department of Psychology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada;Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada;Department of Psychology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA;

关键词: Parenting;    Maternal;    Mental health;    Depression;    Pilot study;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s40814-023-01245-x

 received in 2022-08-02, accepted in 2023-01-13,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundMaternal mental health concerns and parenting stress in the first few years following childbirth are common and pose significant risks to maternal and child well-being. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to increases in maternal depression and anxiety and has presented unique parenting stressors. Although early intervention is crucial, there are significant barriers to accessing care.MethodsTo inform a larger randomized controlled trial, the current open-pilot trial investigated initial evidence for the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of a newly developed online group therapy and app-based mental health and parenting program (BEAM) for mothers of infants. Forty-six mothers 18 years or older with clinically elevated depression scores, with an infant aged 6–17 months old, and who lived in Manitoba or Alberta were enrolled in the 10-week program (starting in July 2021) and completed self-report surveys.ResultsThe majority of participants engaged in each of the program components at least once and participants indicated relatively high levels of app satisfaction, ease of use, and usefulness. However, there was a high level of attrition (46%). Paired-sample t-tests indicated significant pre- to post-intervention change in maternal depression, anxiety, and parenting stress, and in child internalizing, but not externalizing symptoms. Effect sizes were in the medium to high range, with the largest effect size observed for depressive symptoms (Cohen’s d = .93).DiscussionThis study shows moderate levels of feasibility and strong preliminary efficacy of the BEAM program. Limitations to program design and delivery are being addressed for testing in adequately powered follow-up trials of the BEAM program for mothers of infants.Trial registrationNCT04772677. Registered on February 26 2021.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2023

【 图 表 】

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