Effects of Internet-Based Support Program on Parenting Outcomes for Primiparous Women: A Pilot Study

Abstract

(1) Background: Some primiparous women are usually confronted with many parenting problems after childbirth, which can negatively influence the wellbeing of some mothers and infants. Evidence identified that internet interventions can include more tailored information, reach a larger research group, and supply more anonymity than face-to-face traditional interventions. Therefore, the internet-based support program (ISP) was designed to improve the parenting outcomes for Chinese first-time mothers. (2) Methods: A multicenter, single-blinded, pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted. From May to October 2020, a total of 44 participants were recruited in the obstetrical wards of two tertiary hospitals in China. Eighteen women in the control group received routine postnatal care; while eighteen women in the intervention group accessed to the ISP and routine postnatal care. The duration of intervention was not less than three months. Intervention outcomes were assessed through questionnaires before randomization (T0), immediately after intervention (T1), and three months after intervention (T2). The Self-efficacy in Infant Care Scale (SICS), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and Postpartum Social Support Scale (PSSS) were included to measure MSE, postpartum depression (PPD), and social support, respectively. (3) Results: No significant difference between the two groups were found in terms of the baseline social-demographic characteristics; and the scores of SICS, EPDS and PSSS at T0 (p > 0.05). Repeated measures multivariate analysis of covariance found that women in the intervention group had a higher MSE score at T1 (6.63, p = 0.007), and T2 (5.75, p = 0.020); a lower EPDS score at T1 (3.11, p = 0.003), and T2 (2.50, p = 0.005); and a higher PSSS score at T1 (4.30, p = 0.001); and no significant difference at T2 (0.35, p = 0.743), compared with women in the control group. (4) Conclusion: The effect of ISP was evaluated to significantly increase primiparous women’s MSE, social support, and to alleviate their PPD symptoms. However, the small sample in pilot study restricted the research results. Therefore, the ISP should be further investigated with a larger, diverse sample to confirm whether it should be adopted as routine postnatal care to support primiparous women on parenting outcomes and mental wellbeing in the early stage of motherhood.

Parenting Programme Structure, Potential Barriers, and Facilitators: A Scoping Review

“…Parenting programmes can increase parenting competence, skills and practices [ 27 , 31 , 38 ], self-efficacy [ 37 ] and parents’ knowledge about children’s temperament and developmental stages [ 28 , 38 ]. It also enabled the strengthening of social support [ 31 , 37 ] and the way to solve children’s conduct problems [ 36 , 38 ].…”

“…Parenting programmes can increase parenting competence, skills and practices [ 27 , 31 , 38 ], self-efficacy [ 37 ] and parents’ knowledge about children’s temperament and developmental stages [ 28 , 38 ]. It also enabled the strengthening of social support [ 31 , 37 ] and the way to solve children’s conduct problems [ 36 , 38 ]. The demonstration of various feelings of stress and frustration concerning day-to-day parenting was also reported as one of the benefits of the parental programme [ 29 ].…”

“…Moreover, the results report that parenting programmes can reduce stress [ 27 , 39 ] and depression [ 27 , 37 ].…”

Positive intervention effect of mobile health application based on mindfulness and social support theory on postpartum depression symptoms of puerperae

“…With the wide popularity of smart phones, relevant researches are more inclined to the application of mobile applications [ 34 ]. The study found that women of childbearing age were more likely to turn to the cellphone for health information, and that new mothers with postpartum depressive symptoms felt they could use mHealth technology to help them manage their symptoms of depression [ 35 ]. The researchers turned their attention to the role of mHealth interventions in preventing and treating postpartum depressive symptoms, and the study showed promising results in reducing postpartum depressive symptoms.…”

Development of a Mobile Application of Internet-Based Support Program on Parenting Outcomes for Primiparous Women

“…Maternal-role transition will bring tremendous challenges for first-time mothers, who need to learn various parenting knowledge and skills and adjust to the new household relationship [ 2 ]. Owing to the little parenting experience, primiparous women after childbirth usually suffer from various parenting problems, which have negative effects on the physical and mental well-being of mothers and infants [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]. Maternal self-efficacy (MSE), as a significant indicator of parenting outcomes, is the belief women hold about their capability to organize and perform the different parenting tasks [ 6 ].…”