The Effect of Watching Cat Videos on Non-Stress Test Results And Stress Parameters in Pregnant Women

The Effect of Watching Cat Videos on Maternal Stress and Fetal Well-being: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

Pregnancy is a period in which women are physiologically and psychologically vulnerable, and the stress experienced can affect both maternal mental health and fetal well-being. The non-stress test (NST), used to assess fetal health in the final weeks of pregnancy, can cause anxiety in some women because it requires the mother to remain supine and immobile for extended periods. Prolonged testing or non-reactive results can also increase this stress. Therefore, simple methods are needed to reduce stress during NST. Humorous and cute content, especially animal videos, is known to promote positive emotions and psychological relaxation. This study evaluated the effects of watching cat videos during NST on stress levels and fetal physiological parameters in primiparous pregnant women.

Pregnancy is a sensitive period during which women experience a variety of changes, both physiologically and psychologically. Stress factors encountered during this period can negatively impact the mother's mental health and fetal well-being. Non-stress testing (NST) is a non-invasive screening method frequently performed in the final weeks of pregnancy to assess fetal health. However, during the NST, the mother lies motionless in a supine position for approximately 20 minutes, during which time she attempts to obtain sufficient data on the baby's heart rate and movements, which can cause stress and anxiety in some women. A prolonged duration or a non-reactive test result can be a cause for concern. Therefore, simple and effective methods are needed to reduce maternal stress during the NST. Humorous and cute content, especially animal videos, are known to evoke positive emotions and provide psychological relief in viewers. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of watching a cat video during the NST procedure on stress parameters and fetal physiological parameters in primiparous pregnant women.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant women who are primiparous,
• Able to communicate in Turkish,
• In their 34th-40th weeks of pregnancy,
• Have no problems that would prevent them from viewing visual or auditory materials,
• Have the cognitive ability to understand interactive video content,
• Have not engaged in physical exercise for at least 2 hours prior to fetal heart rate monitoring will be included in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant women with multiple pregnancies,
• Uterine contractions detected during NST,
• Diagnosed with a high-risk pregnancy (preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, placenta previa, etc.),
• A phobia of cats (ailurophobia),
• Pregnant women who became pregnant using assisted reproductive technologies (ART),
• Have a history of a diagnosed endocrinological (e.g., hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Cushing's syndrome) or psychiatric (e.g., anxiety disorder, depression) disease will be excluded from the study.