The effect of telephone-based cognitive-behavioural therapy on parenting stress: A randomised controlled trial.
Objective Stress related to parenting has detrimental effects on the well-being of children, parents and the family system as a whole. There are limited studies about the efficacy of cognitive-behavioural therapy delivered by telephone in reducing parenting stress. The present study investigates the effect of telephone-based cognitive-behavioural therapy on parenting stress at six weeks and six months postpartum.



This is a multi-site randomised controlled trial. A total of 397 Chinese mothers at risk of postnatal depression were randomly assigned to receive either telephone-based cognitive-behavioural therapy or routine postpartum care. Parental stress was assessed by the Parenting Stress Index Short Form at six weeks and six months postpartum.



The findings revealed that mothers who had received telephone-based cognitive-behavioural therapy showed significantly lower levels of parenting stress than women only receiving routine postpartum care at six weeks (mean difference=9.42, 95% confidence interval 5.85-12.99, p<0.001, Cohen's d=0.52) and six months postpartum (mean difference=3.58, 95% confidence interval 0.07-7.09, p=0.046, Cohen's d=0.20).



Telephone-based cognitive-behavioural therapy is a promising treatment modality for supporting parenting and reducing stress during the transition period. Integration of telephone-based cognitive-behavioural therapy into routine postpartum care might facilitate positive adaptation in particular for mothers at risk of postnatal depression.
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong. Electronic address: vivian.ngai@polyu.edu.hk.
Fei Wan
FW
Ngai
Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Paul Wai-Ching
PW
Wong
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Ka Fai
KF
Chung
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong.
Kwok Yin
KY
Leung
D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D013689:Telephone; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
Cognitive-behavioural therapy; Parenting stress; Postpartum; Telephone intervention