Volume 12, Issue 2 (winter 2026)
IJRN 2026, 12(2): 112-125 |
Back to browse issues page
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Beirami A, azizi S. The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy on Fear of Childbirth and Enhancement of Quality of Life in Pregnant Women. IJRN 2026; 12 (2) :112-125
URL: http://ijrn.ir/article-1-972-en.html
URL: http://ijrn.ir/article-1-972-en.html
Mother and Child Welfare Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
Abstract: (235 Views)
Introduction: Fear of childbirth is a prevalent psychological phenomenon that can adversely affect pregnant women’s mental health and quality of life, often leading to heightened stress and anxiety during pregnancy and delivery. Identifying effective interventions to alleviate this fear is essential for improving the quality of prenatal care. The present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of mindfulness-based art therapy in reducing fear of childbirth and enhancing quality of life among primiparous and multiparous pregnant women.
Methods: This quasi-experimental study employed a pretest–posttest design with three parallel arms (two intervention groups and one control group) and was conducted in 2025 in Bandar Abbas, Iran. A total of 90 eligible pregnant women were selected using structured random sampling and allocated into three groups of 30 participants each (primiparous intervention, multiparous intervention, and control). The intervention consisted of eight structured, face-to-face group sessions of mindfulness-based art therapy. Assessments were conducted at three time points: baseline (pretest), immediately after the intervention (posttest), and at a four-week follow-up. Fear of childbirth was measured using the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ), and quality of life was assessed using the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21 and appropriate statistical tests. Ethical principles were observed, and informed consent was obtained from all participants.
Results: The groups were homogeneous in terms of demographic characteristics (P > 0.05). No significant differences were observed in fear of childbirth scores at baseline. However, post-intervention analyses revealed a significant reduction in fear of childbirth in both intervention groups compared with the control group (P < 0.001), and this effect was sustained at the four-week follow-up. Participant satisfaction with the program was high, indicating the acceptability and effectiveness of the intervention in improving psychological well-being and quality of life.
Conclusion: Mindfulness-based art therapy appears to be an effective intervention for reducing fear of childbirth and improving quality of life among pregnant women and may play a significant role in promoting maternal mental health during pregnancy.
Methods: This quasi-experimental study employed a pretest–posttest design with three parallel arms (two intervention groups and one control group) and was conducted in 2025 in Bandar Abbas, Iran. A total of 90 eligible pregnant women were selected using structured random sampling and allocated into three groups of 30 participants each (primiparous intervention, multiparous intervention, and control). The intervention consisted of eight structured, face-to-face group sessions of mindfulness-based art therapy. Assessments were conducted at three time points: baseline (pretest), immediately after the intervention (posttest), and at a four-week follow-up. Fear of childbirth was measured using the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ), and quality of life was assessed using the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21 and appropriate statistical tests. Ethical principles were observed, and informed consent was obtained from all participants.
Results: The groups were homogeneous in terms of demographic characteristics (P > 0.05). No significant differences were observed in fear of childbirth scores at baseline. However, post-intervention analyses revealed a significant reduction in fear of childbirth in both intervention groups compared with the control group (P < 0.001), and this effect was sustained at the four-week follow-up. Participant satisfaction with the program was high, indicating the acceptability and effectiveness of the intervention in improving psychological well-being and quality of life.
Conclusion: Mindfulness-based art therapy appears to be an effective intervention for reducing fear of childbirth and improving quality of life among pregnant women and may play a significant role in promoting maternal mental health during pregnancy.
Keywords: Art therapy, Mindfulness, Pregnancy anxiety, Primiparous women, Multiparous women, Quality of life
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Mental rehabilitation
Received: 2025/08/17 | Accepted: 2025/10/27 | Published: 2026/03/3
Received: 2025/08/17 | Accepted: 2025/10/27 | Published: 2026/03/3
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |