Psychosocial Effects of Coloring in Preeclamptic Pregnant Women

The Effect of Mother-Baby Themed Coloring on Stress, Anxiety, and Psychosocial Health in Pregnant Women Diagnosed With Preeclampsia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Preeclampsia is one of the major causes of maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity, affecting approximately 3-5% of pregnancies. A diagnosis of preeclampsia may lead to psychological problems such as psychosocial distress, depression, and anxiety due to prolonged hospitalization, concerns about the future health of the baby, separation from family, and adapting to a foreign environment. Health professionals play a crucial role in the diagnosis, treatment, and care of high-risk pregnancies and also implement non-pharmacological supportive methods such as yoga, progressive muscle relaxation, and mindfulness. One of these non-pharmacological methods is mandala. According to the literature, integrating mandala coloring into perinatal care is believed to have beneficial effects.

Therefore, the primary aim of this study is to investigate the effects of mother-baby themed coloring on anxiety. The secondary aim is to determine its effects on psychosocial health and cortisol levels.

H1a: Is there a difference between anxiety scores in preeclamptic pregnant women who were and were not exposed to dyeing activity?

H1b: Is there a difference between psychosocial health scores in preeclamptic pregnant women who were and were not exposed to dyeing activity?

H1c: Is there a difference between cortisol levels in preeclamptic pregnant women who were and were not exposed to dyeing activity?

Inclusion Criteria:

• Having a single and healthy fetus
• Gestational age ≥ 20 weeks
• Diagnosed with preeclampsia by a physician
• Not having a history of treated pregnancy

Exclusion Criteria:

• Using psychiatric medication (self-report)
• Receiving psychological counseling during the intervention
• Diagnosed with severe preeclampsia