The Effect of an Exercise Program in Reducing the Severity of Postpartum Depression in Women: A Randomized Control Trial
The Effect of an Exercise Program in Reducing the Severity of Postpartum Depression in Women: A Randomized Control Trial
Aim: This study aims to identify the effectiveness of an exercise program in reducing the severity of postnatal depression in women who had a spontaneous vaginal delivery.
Methods: This randomized control trial was conducted with 65 postpartum women residing in a city located in the south-eastern Turkey. In the first postpartum month, following random assignment of subjects, the experimental group (n=40) performed exercises for four weeks, and the control group (n=40) received standard cares. The participating women were administered the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale.
Postpartum depression is characterized by irritability, guilt, burnout, anxiety, sleep disorders, and somatic symptoms that could have negative effects on the mother, baby, and family.
In a meta-analysis study including 219 prevalence studies from 56 countries that investigated different phases of postpartum using various data collection tools, Hahn-Holbrook et al. (2018) found the depression prevalence at the global level as 17.7% (Hahn-Holbrook, 2018). In Turkey, 23.8% of women in the postpartum period were reported to be suffering from postpartum depression, which underlines the need for health professionals to be concerned about the health of the women in the postpartum period.
Exercises done in the postpartum period are reported to enable psychosocial well-being, less anxiety and depression, better cardiovascular adaptation, body fat/weight control, less bone loss caused by lactation, and less stress incontinence. Studies have generally indicated the importance of regular exercise in the postpartum period. Studies have generally indicated the importance of regular exercise in the postpartum period.
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Adi̇yaman, 02100, Turkey (Türkiye)