The effectiveness of massage for reducing pregnant women's anxiety and depression; systematic review and meta-analysis

Hall, Helen; Cant, Robyn; Munk, Niki; Carr, Bethany; Tremayne, Ann B.; Weller, Carolina; Fogarty, Sarah; Lauche, Romy

doi:10.1016/j.midw.2020.102818

Cited by 23 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Moreover, only 2% of women in the massage group reported side effects (tiredness after treatment), while almost half of participants in the acupuncture group experienced mild or transient side effects (e.g., nausea, headache or sleep disturbance after treatment). In line with these results, a current meta-analysis of four RCT (all four conducted by Field et al) revealed a moderate effect of massage therapy on pregnant women's depressive symptoms [26].…”

Section: Effects Of Massage During Pregnancy On Women With Prenatal Depressionsupporting

confidence: 76%

“…However, some healthcare professionals still do not treat pregnant women out of fear of inducing premature contractions or causing physical harm, and expecting mothers voice concerns that massages during pregnancy might be unsafe or cause complications [24,25]. Recent systematic reviews with meta-analyses have investigated the effects of massage and other complementary therapies on pregnant women's anxiety and depression [26,27]. The authors found promising effects.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects, Side Effects and Contraindications of Relaxation Massage during Pregnancy: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Mueller

Grünwald

2021

JCM

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Healthcare professionals and expecting mothers frequently voice concerns that massages during pregnancy might cause complications or premature labor. This PRISMA review outlines current results on effects, side effects and contraindications of relaxation massage during pregnancy. Inclusion criteria: all randomized controlled trials (RCT) comparing relaxation massage during pregnancy with standard care or standard care plus another intervention (i.e., progressive muscle relaxation). Restrictions were full text availability and English language. Results: 12 RCT were included. Trials had good methodological quality but unknown risk of bias. All women were at least 12 weeks gestation at the start of the study. The main benefits of massage during pregnancy were: reduced stress, back and leg pain, depression and anxiety; increased immune response; increased serotonin and dopamine levels; higher fetal birth weight and reduced risk of preterm delivery. Only 2 RCT reported potential side effects of massage, which were minor and transient. Seven RCT excluded women with difficult pregnancies or preexisting complications, five studies did not report preexisting conditions. Those obstetric or postnatal complications that occurred were most likely unrelated to massage treatments. In healthy pregnant women without complications, relaxation massage has positive effects throughout pregnancy. Precautions for massage during pregnancy (i.e., to prevent pulmonary embolism) are discussed.

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Section: Effects Of Massage During Pregnancy On Women With Prenatal Depressionsupporting

confidence: 76%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects, Side Effects and Contraindications of Relaxation Massage during Pregnancy: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Mueller

Grünwald

2021

JCM

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“…Music intervention programmes can be recognized as a leading non‐invasive cost‐effective approach targeting the rising costs of healthcare services worldwide (Browning, 2001; Labrague & McEnroe‐Petitte, 2016). Also, massage as a one of the most popular complementary and alternative medical treatments for anxiety (Ardianti et al., 2020; Hall et al., 2020) can improve the expectant fathers' anxiety (Latifses et al., 2005). Learning and practicing massage by fathers makes fathers feel closer to their spouses and their foetuses, reduces pre‐natal and postpartum tensions and also increases marital satisfaction and ultimately improves parental relationships.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A systematic review of clinical trials affecting anxiety, stress and fear of childbirth in expectant fathers

et al. 2020

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Aim To investigate clinical trials affecting anxiety, stress and fear of childbirth in fathers. Design A systematic literature search was conducted based on Cochrane Collaboration statement recommendation and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta‐Analyses checklist. Methods With assistance of Medical Subject Headings, keywords were employed to search for relevant trials. Articles published between November 2000–November 2019 were searched in five electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus and Cochrane as well as Iranian databases. The risk of bias was assessed by Cochrane Risk of Bias Scale. Results A total of eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Interventions were classified into four categories including pre‐natal education, music therapy, massage therapy and relaxation training. The results showed that there is no evidence of a best intervention, but it showed that non‐pharmacological interventions can decrease anxiety, stress and fear of childbirth and increase the positive experience of childbirth in the expectant fathers.

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“…Numerous studies have demonstrated the positive impacts of writing emotions on mental and physical health (18-21), such as: reducing stress, anxiety and depression in primiparous pregnant women(18), reducing anxiety and stress in Multiple Sclerosis patients (12), reducing the stress of mothers with preterm neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) (19), improving the mental health of women with postpartum depression (20), improving the physical and mental symptoms of patients with colorectal, breast and prostate cancer (21).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Today, the treatment of psychological problems focuses on psychotherapy and medication, the effects of which usually occur in the long term. Moreover, medications easily cross the placenta and can have negative impacts on fetal and infant health (12).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Writing Therapy Using Two Methods of Expressive Writing and Daily Activity Writing on Stress, Anxiety and Depression in Primiparous Pregnant Women; A Randomized Clinical Trial

Mirmolaei

Khalili

Ranjbar

2022

Preprint

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Introduction: Depression, anxiety and stress during pregnancy are associated with detrimental effects on maternal and child health. Writing is a cheap and non-invasive treatment that can improve mental health. This study was aimed to compare the effect of writing in two ways of expressive writing and daily activity writing on stress, anxiety, and depression in pregnant women.Methods: This clinical trial study was performed on 102 primiparous women with a gestational age of 25-28 weeks referred to the of South Health center of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The samples were divided into two intervention groups and one control group by block randomization sampling method. Research instruments included demographic questionnaires, Beck Depression Inventory, and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (Dass21). In the expressive writing group, women were asked to write their deepest feelings. In the daily activity writing group, daily activities were written without involving feelings and emotions. The control group received routine prenatal care. All three groups completed the DASS21 questionnaire before the intervention, four and eight weeks after the intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS V21 software and ANOVA, Chi-square, and Fisher tests.Results: The variables of stress, anxiety, and depression were not statistically significant before the intervention in all 3 groups. The mean score of stress, anxiety, and depression in the two groups of expressive writing and daily activity writing was statistically significantly lower than the control group 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the intervention.Conclusion: According to the results of this study, writing can be recommended as a simple and low-cost method in reducing anxiety, stress, and depression in pregnant women during prenatal care.Trial registration: IRCT20170815035722N3. Registration date: 18-05-2019

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The effectiveness of massage for reducing pregnant women's anxiety and depression; systematic review and meta-analysis

Cited by 23 publications

References 42 publications

Effects, Side Effects and Contraindications of Relaxation Massage during Pregnancy: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Effects, Side Effects and Contraindications of Relaxation Massage during Pregnancy: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

A systematic review of clinical trials affecting anxiety, stress and fear of childbirth in expectant fathers

The Effect of Writing Therapy Using Two Methods of Expressive Writing and Daily Activity Writing on Stress, Anxiety and Depression in Primiparous Pregnant Women; A Randomized Clinical Trial

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