Citation

Ochoa W, Reich SM, Díaz G. Matern. Child Health J. 2021; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s10995-021-03200-9

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether embedding educational information about child development and optimal parenting practices from the Bright Futures Guidelines for Health Supervision into baby books can reduce women's depressive symptoms and parenting stress during the first 18 months of motherhood.

METHODS: A sample of 167 low-income, primarily African-American, first-time mothers were randomized into three conditions while pregnant: an educational book group, a non-educational book group, or a no-book group. Depressive symptoms and parenting stress were assessed using two questionnaires during home visits when women were in their third trimester of pregnancy (baseline) and when their child was 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, and 18 months of age.

RESULTS: Hierarchical Linear Models showed that women who received books with educational information shed depressive symptoms and parenting stress at a faster rate than women who received similar books without educational information and women who did not receive books.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that providing women with child development and parenting information via baby books can be an effective strategy for promoting new mothers' emotional wellbeing. Since feelings of sadness and stress are risky for both mothers and their infants, this easy to implement intervention holds great promise.

Language: en

Keywords

Parenting; Depression; Stress; African American