Mobile well-being in pregnancy: suggestions from a quasi-experimental controlled study

ABSTRACT

‘BenEssere Mamma’ app is a mobile self-help intervention containing mindfulness meditations and ‘savoring the present moment’ exercises for use during pregnancy. The goal of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of this app in enhancing the psychological well-being of healthy childbearing women. A quasi-experimental controlled study was conducted with 74 pregnant women randomly assigned to experimental group (APP – mobile app and antenatal care) or control group (routine antenatal care). Participants were assessed on their psychological well-being before, after the 4 weeks of use of the app, and after the childbirth, using Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being Scale. Women’s acceptance and user experience with the app were also assessed through an ad hoc questionnaire. Experimental group reported an increase in sense of autonomy after intervention and after childbirth, and greater self-acceptance after the childbirth compared to the control group. Results are promising and future investigations are needed to understand if a more interactive or a longer intervention could lead to more effective results and if other populations could benefit of this opportunity. Furthermore, to take advantage of potentialities of mobile apps for promoting well-being in pregnant women, the integration of these tools within a wide public health project is encouraged.

KEYWORDS:

• Effectiveness
• healthcare
• usefulness
• mobile app
• mHealth
• psychology

Acknowledgements

We are especially grateful to the whole staff (manager and midwives) of the three obstetric wards of Saronno, Gallarate and Busto Arsizio Hospitals, who collaborated and gave us permission to recruit the participants in the childbirth classes.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).