Efficacy, Feasibility, and Acceptability of Perinatal Yoga on Women's Mental Health and Well-Being: A Systematic Literature Review.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to examine the existing empirical literature on yoga and its effects on women's health and well-being during the perinatal period, particularly for reducing anxiety and depression.
Results Summary
Yoga interventions were generally effective in reducing anxiety and depression in pregnant women, showing promise for improving mental health and well-being for women and infants.
Population
Pregnant women (perinatal population)
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
pharmacological treatment | decrease | perinatal major depressive disorder | pregnant women | - | has shown effectiveness | #1 |
complementary and alternative medicine | decrease | perinatal depression and anxiety | women | - | potentially offers alternatives | #2 |
yoga | decrease | anxiety and depression | pregnant women | - | generally effective in reducing | #3 |
yoga | increase | mental health and well-being | women and infants | - | shows promise in improving | #4 |
INTRODUCTION: Perinatal major depressive disorder affects 20% of women, while perinatal anxiety affects 10% of women. Although pharmacological treatment has shown effectiveness, many pregnant women are concerned about potential adverse effects on the fetus, maternal-infant bonding, and child development. Approximately 38% of American adults use complementary and alternative medicine, including yoga and other mind-body strategies. Although complementary and alternative medicine has been less studied in the perinatal population, it potentially offers women and their providers alternatives to traditional medication for treatment of perinatal depression and anxiety. Thus, the purpose of this systematic review was to examine existing empirical literature on yoga and its effects on women's health and well-being during the perinatal period. METHOD: Following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines for systemic literature reviews, literature searches using relevant search terms were performed in four major electronic databases: CINAHL, PubMed, PsycINFO, and EMBASE. Thirteen publications met inclusion criteria. RESULTS: Results indicated that yoga interventions are generally effective in reducing anxiety and depression in pregnant women. DISCUSSION: The use of yoga in the perinatal period shows promise in improving mental health and well-being for women and infants. This review can inform future yoga intervention studies and clinical practice with the perinatal population.