Contributions of mindfulness in high-risk pregnancy: a mixed methods systematic review

Introduction: Experiencing a high-risk pregnancy entails pathological situations with repercussions that can interfere with maternal-fetal well-being and increase maternal anxiety. Mindfulness emerges as one of the techniques used to improve the quality of care in the transition period resulting fro...

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Main Authors: Irina Neves Dutra, Sandra Seixinho, Cristina Baixinho, Maria Helena Presado, Rubén García-Fernández
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Heliyon
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025014409
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author Irina Neves Dutra
Sandra Seixinho
Cristina Baixinho
Maria Helena Presado
Rubén García-Fernández
author_facet Irina Neves Dutra
Sandra Seixinho
Cristina Baixinho
Maria Helena Presado
Rubén García-Fernández
author_sort Irina Neves Dutra
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Experiencing a high-risk pregnancy entails pathological situations with repercussions that can interfere with maternal-fetal well-being and increase maternal anxiety. Mindfulness emerges as one of the techniques used to improve the quality of care in the transition period resulting from pregnancy, which, through meditative practice, seeks to understand observation and the nature of the lived experience, resulting in a progressive state of clarity and awareness. Objective: This review assessed the contributions of applying mindfulness in high-risk pregnancies.The review considered experimental, quasi-experimental studies, randomized controlled trials and non-randomized controlled trials. Observational studies were also considered. Evidence published in the last 5 years was considered. Methods: This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for systematic reviews of mixed methods using a convergent integrated approach to synthesis and integration. We searched for published and unpublished English, Portuguese and Spanish-language studies and grey literature. CINAHL Ultimate, MEDLINE (via Pubmed), Web of Science, Academic Search Complete, EBSCO Host Open Dissertations and Open Access Theses and Dissertations were searched in April–May 2024. Two authors screened titles and abstracts before full-text screening and data extraction. Two authors reviewed the extracted data. Results: Ten articles were included in the review: 5 randomized controlled trials, 3 quasi-experimental studies and 2 mixed-methods studies. 9 studies measured the effectiveness of the application of mindfulness-based interventions on high-risk pregnant women and 1 assessed the acceptance of mindfulness intervention. Six studies measured the effects of the application of mindfulness in high-risk pregnant women in depressive symptoms, two reported the outcomes in stress, five on anxiety, two on psychological well-being, one on gestational weight gain, one in prenatal attachment and another in sleep quality. Conclusions: Long term reduction of depressive symptoms, anxiety and stress and increased psychological well-being are contributions of mindfulness on high-risk pregnant women. The existing evidence on other contributions of the application of mindfulness is limited, further research being necessary.
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spelling doaj-art-7f53d1d750004c359274b1e6fe34805c2025-08-20T02:31:05ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402025-06-011111e4305910.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e43059Contributions of mindfulness in high-risk pregnancy: a mixed methods systematic reviewIrina Neves Dutra0Sandra Seixinho1Cristina Baixinho2Maria Helena Presado3Rubén García-Fernández4Nursing Research, Innovation and Development Centre of Lisbon (CIDNUR), Lisbon, Portugal; Corresponding author.Nursing Research, Innovation and Development Centre of Lisbon (CIDNUR), Lisbon, PortugalNursing Research, Innovation and Development Centre of Lisbon (CIDNUR), Lisbon, Portugal; Nursing School of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal; Center of Innovative Care and Health Technology (ciTechCare), 2414-016, Leiria, PortugalNursing Research, Innovation and Development Centre of Lisbon (CIDNUR), Lisbon, Portugal; Nursing School of Lisbon, Lisbon, PortugalNursing Research, Innovation and Development Centre of Lisbon (CIDNUR), Lisbon, Portugal; SALBIS Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, Campus de Ponferrada, Universidad de León, 24401, León, SpainIntroduction: Experiencing a high-risk pregnancy entails pathological situations with repercussions that can interfere with maternal-fetal well-being and increase maternal anxiety. Mindfulness emerges as one of the techniques used to improve the quality of care in the transition period resulting from pregnancy, which, through meditative practice, seeks to understand observation and the nature of the lived experience, resulting in a progressive state of clarity and awareness. Objective: This review assessed the contributions of applying mindfulness in high-risk pregnancies.The review considered experimental, quasi-experimental studies, randomized controlled trials and non-randomized controlled trials. Observational studies were also considered. Evidence published in the last 5 years was considered. Methods: This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for systematic reviews of mixed methods using a convergent integrated approach to synthesis and integration. We searched for published and unpublished English, Portuguese and Spanish-language studies and grey literature. CINAHL Ultimate, MEDLINE (via Pubmed), Web of Science, Academic Search Complete, EBSCO Host Open Dissertations and Open Access Theses and Dissertations were searched in April–May 2024. Two authors screened titles and abstracts before full-text screening and data extraction. Two authors reviewed the extracted data. Results: Ten articles were included in the review: 5 randomized controlled trials, 3 quasi-experimental studies and 2 mixed-methods studies. 9 studies measured the effectiveness of the application of mindfulness-based interventions on high-risk pregnant women and 1 assessed the acceptance of mindfulness intervention. Six studies measured the effects of the application of mindfulness in high-risk pregnant women in depressive symptoms, two reported the outcomes in stress, five on anxiety, two on psychological well-being, one on gestational weight gain, one in prenatal attachment and another in sleep quality. Conclusions: Long term reduction of depressive symptoms, anxiety and stress and increased psychological well-being are contributions of mindfulness on high-risk pregnant women. The existing evidence on other contributions of the application of mindfulness is limited, further research being necessary.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025014409PregnantMindfulnessHigh-risk pregnancy
spellingShingle Irina Neves Dutra
Sandra Seixinho
Cristina Baixinho
Maria Helena Presado
Rubén García-Fernández
Contributions of mindfulness in high-risk pregnancy: a mixed methods systematic review
Heliyon
Pregnant
Mindfulness
High-risk pregnancy
title Contributions of mindfulness in high-risk pregnancy: a mixed methods systematic review
title_full Contributions of mindfulness in high-risk pregnancy: a mixed methods systematic review
title_fullStr Contributions of mindfulness in high-risk pregnancy: a mixed methods systematic review
title_full_unstemmed Contributions of mindfulness in high-risk pregnancy: a mixed methods systematic review
title_short Contributions of mindfulness in high-risk pregnancy: a mixed methods systematic review
title_sort contributions of mindfulness in high risk pregnancy a mixed methods systematic review
topic Pregnant
Mindfulness
High-risk pregnancy
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025014409
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