Background: Pregnancy is a period of substantial physical, emotional, and psychosocial adjustment. Women with high-risk pregnancies may experience increased anxiety and perceived stress because of concerns related to maternal complications, fetal well-being, hospitalization, previous adverse pregnancy outcomes, and uncertainty regarding childbirth. Antenatal care provides an important opportunity for healthcare professionals to identify psychological distress and provide supportive interventions. Nurse-led relaxation interventions may offer a simple, non-pharmacological approach to reducing anxiety and stress while complementing routine obstetric care.
Objective: The present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a nurse-led relaxation intervention on anxiety and perceived stress among high-risk pregnant women.
Methods: A quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test control-group design was used for this illustrative study. A sample of 80 high-risk pregnant women was considered, with 40 participants allocated to an intervention group and 40 to a control group. The intervention group received a structured nurse-led relaxation programme consisting of breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, and relaxation-focused counselling for 30 minutes daily for seven consecutive days. The control group received routine antenatal care. Anxiety was assessed using a standardized anxiety scale, while perceived stress was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale. Pre-test assessment was conducted before the intervention and post-test assessment after seven days. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used.
Results: In the analysis, the intervention group demonstrated a substantial reduction in anxiety and perceived stress scores after the intervention. Mean anxiety decreased from 25.8 ± 4.6 at baseline to 17.1 ± 4.1 after the intervention. Mean perceived stress decreased from 24.6 ± 4.2 to 16.8 ± 3.8. In comparison, the control group showed smaller changes in anxiety and stress scores. Independent and paired t-tests demonstrated statistically significant differences between groups in the dataset (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: The findings suggest that a structured nurse-led relaxation intervention is a useful supportive strategy for reducing anxiety and perceived stress among high-risk pregnant women. Incorporating brief relaxation techniques into antenatal nursing care may contribute to more holistic and person-centred maternity care.
high-risk pregnancyanxietyperceived stressrelaxationantenatal carenursing interventionpregnancymaternal mental health
Background: Pregnancy is a period of substantial physical, emotional, and psychosocial adjustment. Women with high-risk pregnancies may experience increased anxiety and perceived stress because of concerns related to maternal complications, fetal well-being, hospitalization, previous adverse pregnancy outcomes, and uncertainty regarding childbirth. Antenatal care provides an important opportunity for healthcare professionals to identify psychological distress and provide supportive interventions. Nurse-led relaxation interventions may offer a simple, non-pharmacological approach to reducing anxiety and stress while complementing routine obstetric care.
Objective: The present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a nurse-led relaxation intervention on anxiety and perceived stress among high-risk pregnant women.
Methods: A quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test control-group design was used for this illustrative study. A sample of 80 high-risk pregnant women was considered, with 40 participants allocated to an intervention group and 40 to a control group. The intervention group received a structured nurse-led relaxation programme consisting of breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, and relaxation-focused counselling for 30 minutes daily for seven consecutive days. The control group received routine antenatal care. Anxiety was assessed using a standardized anxiety scale, while perceived stress was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale. Pre-test assessment was conducted before the intervention and post-test assessment after seven days. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used.
Results: In the analysis, the intervention group demonstrated a substantial reduction in anxiety and perceived stress scores after the intervention. Mean anxiety decreased from 25.8 ± 4.6 at baseline to 17.1 ± 4.1 after the intervention. Mean perceived stress decreased from 24.6 ± 4.2 to 16.8 ± 3.8. In comparison, the control group showed smaller changes in anxiety and stress scores. Independent and paired t-tests demonstrated statistically significant differences between groups in the dataset (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: The findings suggest that a structured nurse-led relaxation intervention is a useful supportive strategy for reducing anxiety and perceived stress among high-risk pregnant women. Incorporating brief relaxation techniques into antenatal nursing care may contribute to more holistic and person-centred maternity care.
high-risk pregnancyanxietyperceived stressrelaxationantenatal carenursing interventionpregnancymaternal mental health