Effects of child-care coaching intervention on the emotional aspect of postpartum women

Abstract

The purpose of the present study is to ascertain the effects of child-care coaching intervention on the emotional aspect of first-time mothers. Subjects consisted of 44 primiparous mothers who had experienced normal pregnancy, delivery, and puerperal period (23 in the intervention group and 21 in the non-intervention group). Child-care coaching intervention was conducted on the subjects in the intervention group at postpartum day 3, one week after hospital discharge, and at 1 month. Self-administered questionnaires were conducted at postpartum day 3 and at 1 month; analyses were made using the following indicators: (1) the "State Anxiety" of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form-Y (STAI-State); (2) Self-Esteem (SE); and (3) Maternal Concerns Questionnaire (MCQ). The changes between postpartum day 3 and 1 month were compared in each group. STAI-State scores significantly increased only in the non-intervention group, while SE scores significantly increased only in the intervention group. Although the MCQ scores tended to decrease in the intervention group and increase in the non-intervention group over this period, no significant differences were observed. Thus, it was suggested that conducting child-care coaching intervention on first-time mothers in the period up to 1 month postpartum was effective in reducing their anxiety and concerns, and in increasing their self-esteem.