Stress management during pregnancy: designing and evaluating a mind-body intervention.
The objective of this 12-week study was to determine whether a relaxation-guided imagery (R-GI) intervention designed as a primary prevention strategy for stress management was perceived as beneficial to African American women during the second trimester of pregnancy. All participants documented perceived benefits of the R-GI intervention that included the following: (1) improved breathing; (2) ability to relax, clear one's mind, and become calm; (3) ability to channel and decrease stress; (4) release of anxiety; (5) use of R-GI throughout the day helped control anger and state of mind, leading to a smoother day; and (6) improved ability to fall and stay asleep.
Jallo
Nancy
N
Clinical Care Services, Sentara Healthcare/ Optima Health, Virginia Beach, VA, USA. jallo@cox.net
Bourguignon
Cheryl
C
Taylor
Ann Gill
AG
Utz
Sharon W
SW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019018:Imagery, Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*