A Feasibility Study: Adaptation of an online real-time mindfulness-based program for mothers of NICU graduates in Japan

Suzuki, Kento

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Year:: 2023
Contributor:: Suzuki, Kento (creator); Proulx, Jeffrey (Advisor); Bublitz, Margaret (Reader); Brown University. School of Public Health (sponsor)
Genre:: theses
Subject:: Mindfulness-based Interventions; Parenting; NICU; perinatal mental health
Extent:: v, 31 p.

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Abstract:: Background Mothers with their children hospitalized in the NICU disproportionately experience severe negative emotions such as self-guilt, anxiety, and sadness that could lead to various mental disorders. In many cases, this emotional distress persists long after the infants are discharged from the NICU. This feasibility study employed a Japanese online real-time mindfulness-based program called “MELON Online” and assessed its feasibility and acceptability as well as preliminary efficacy on trait anxiety, parenting stress, mindfulness, and self-compassion among Japanese mothers whose children used to be hospitalized in the NICU. Methods 20 Japanese NICU mothers were enrolled in the study. Joining or watching recordings of at least two 15- to 90-minute-long mindfulness-based programs per week was defined as the completion of the program. The pre-post changes in the outcome variables were examined for the intention-to-treat sample using paired sample t-tests and Hedge’s g effect size estimates. Correlations between variables were assessed using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient. The post-intervention group interviews were analyzed using the Sort and Sift, Think and Shift qualitative data analysis approach. Results 15 (75%) met the threshold of feasibility, which was set as completing the program for two weeks or more. 96% of the real-time classes taken during the intervention were more than 30 mins long, and the two 30-min-long classes focused on breathing meditation and loving-kindness meditation were particularly popular. Among the 16 pre- and post-intervention survey completers, there was a small statistically significant reduction in trait anxiety, as well as small marginally statistically significant increases in mindfulness and self-compassion. Taking more live classes than archived ones had a statistically significant moderate positive association with increases in FFMQ-C-SF total scores, but no significant changes were seen in other outcome measures. Post-intervention interviews revealed that many participants agreed that the intervention led to small but significant positive changes in their daily stress response patterns. The interviews also revealed many concrete ways to make MBIs more feasible and acceptable for caregivers of preterm infants in Japan. Conclusion This study provided preliminary evidence that a brief real-time online mindfulness-based program is acceptable and feasible as well as efficacious, particularly in reducing trait anxiety in caregivers of prematurely born children. There is a need of larger RCTs with greater statistical power and sensitivity to temporality that examine the efficacy of online mindfulness-based interventions for caregivers of preterm infants. Further research is needed to gain insight into the optimal timing for them to engage in mindfulness practices.
Notes:: Thesis (M. P. H.)--Brown University, 2023

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Suzuki, Kento, "A Feasibility Study: Adaptation of an online real-time mindfulness-based program for mothers of NICU graduates in Japan" (2023). Public Health Theses and Dissertations. Brown Digital Repository. Brown University Library. https://repository.library.brown.edu/studio/item/bdr:c6w84mcp/

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Public Health Theses and Dissertations

Theses and Dissertations for the Public Health department.
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