Comparing the effectiveness of virtual and semi-attendance Stress Inoculation Training [SIT] techniques in improving the symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress of pregnant women with psychological distress: a multicenter randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background Some studies indicate that more than 10% of pregnant women are affected by psychological problems. The current COVID‐19 pandemic has increased mental health problems in more than half of pregnant women. The present study compared the effectiveness of virtual (VSIT) and semi-attendance Stress Inoculation Training (SIT) techniques on the improvement of the symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress of pregnant women with psychological distress. Methods This study was conducted on 96 pregnant women with psychological distress in a 2-arm parallel-group, randomized control trial between November 2020 and January 2022. The semi-attendance SIT received treatment for six sessions, sessions 1, 3 and 5 as individual face-to-face and sessions 2, 4 and 6 as virtual once a week for 60 min continuously [n = 48], and the virtual SIT received six sessions simultaneously once a week for 60 min (n = 48) in pregnant women of 14–32 weeks’ gestation referred to two selected hospitals. The primary outcome of this study was BSI-18 [Brief Symptom Inventory] and NuPDQ-17 [Prenatal Distress Questionnaire]. The secondary outcomes were the PSS-14 [Cohen’s General Perceived Stress Scale]. Both groups completed questionnaires measuring anxiety, depression, pregnancy-specific stress, and generally perceived stress questionnaires before and after the treatment. Results The post-intervention results showed that the stress inoculation training technique in both VSIT and SIT interventions effectively reduced anxiety, depression, psychological distress, pregnancy-specific stress and general perceived stress [P < 0.01]. Also, the SIT interventions on decreasing anxiety [P < 0.001, η2 = 0.40], depression [P < 0.001, η2 = 0.52] and psychological distress [P < 0.001, η2 = 0.41] were more considerable than that of VSIT. However, There was no significant difference between SIT and VSIT intervention in terms of their effects on pregnancy-specific stress [P < 0.38, η2 = 0.01] and general stress [P < 0.42, η2 = 0.008]. Conclusion The semi-attendance SIT group has been a more effective and practical model than the VSIT group, for reducing psychological distress. Therefore, semi-attendance SIT is recommended for pregnant women.

The influence of perceived stress of Chinese healthcare workers after the opening of COVID-19: the bidirectional mediation between mental health and job burnout

“…Therefore, in order to promote the healthy development of human resources in healthcare teams and improve the overall quality of healthcare services, various measures can be taken to reduce sources of stress, prevent work burnout, and ensure physical and mental health: healthcare institutions can strengthen screening for stress factors, flexibly arrange work content and intensity, reduce the triggers of perceived stress ( 49 ), regularly implement screening and intervention strategies for mental health status. Healthcare workers can strengthen their own physical and mental health, seek social and emotional support resources, take necessary breaks to achieve work-life balance ( 47 ), timely release negative emotions ( 50 ), regularly engage in mindfulness therapy ( 51 ), stress inoculation training ( 52 ), and activities of the Balint group ( 53 ).…”

Effectiveness of computer-based stress inoculation training (SIT) counseling approach on anxiety, depression, and stress of students with premenstrual syndrome

“…Scientific and valid references were used in PMS and psycho-education regarding PMS and its application in SIT [ 4 , 34 ]. The content of the SIT intervention was scientific and valid [ 22 , 35 , 36 ]. A female assistant (author F Z) had received the necessary training for three months regarding the SIT model under the supervision of a psychology consultant before the trial.…”

“…The coping skills embedded in SIT empower individuals to creatively confront stressful situations and reevaluate their prior beliefs [ 21 ]. The results of a study demonstrated a reduction in anxiety, depression, and stress among pregnant women following intervention with virtual and semi-face-to-face SIT techniques [ 22 ]. Despite the evidence of premenstrual psychological and physical problems, most research has been reported descriptively.…”