The Psychosocial Effects of Prenatal Education With the Indivisible Self Model

The Impact of a Prenatal Education Program Based on the Indivisible Self Model on Psychosocial Outcomes: A Randomized Controlled Study

This study was designed to compare the effects of a prenatal education program based on the Indivisible Self Model with those of a needs-based prenatal education program on psychosocial outcomes among pregnant women.

This study is designed as a single-blind randomized controlled trial to compare the effects of an Indivisible Self Model-based prenatal education program with those of a needs-based prenatal education program on psychosocial outcomes among pregnant women residing in Aksaray, Türkiye, between December 2025 and November 2026. Eligible pregnant women who meet the inclusion criteria will be informed about the study objectives and procedures, and written informed consent will be obtained prior to participation. Participants will be randomly allocated to one of two intervention groups. The intervention group will receive a prenatal education program based on the Indivisible Self Model. Training will be delivered by a researcher-midwife in face-to-face group sessions consisting of 7-8 participants, with a total of five groups. The program will comprise 10 sessions delivered over two consecutive days, with five 45-minute sessions scheduled each day and a 15-minute break between sessions. The curriculum will be structured around the five dimensions of the Indivisible Self Model (Creative Self, Coping Self, Social Self, Essential Self, and Physical Self). Each dimension will include an interactive theoretical component followed by practical activities designed to enhance participants' knowledge, skills, and psychosocial well-being. The control group will receive a needs-based prenatal education program developed according to participants' identified educational needs and the Turkish Ministry of Health's Standard Training Content for Pregnant Information Classes. Training will likewise be delivered face-to-face by the researcher-midwife to groups of 7-8 participants, with five groups in total. The program will consist of 10 sessions conducted over two consecutive days, following the same schedule as the intervention group. The curriculum will focus on pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, postpartum care, and newborn care, aiming to improve participants' knowledge and practical skills. Educational sessions will incorporate interactive teaching strategies, including open-ended questioning, reflective listening, affirmations, and communication techniques appropriate to the learning objectives. Delivery of both educational programs is expected to be completed within a 10-week period. Outcome measures and study questionnaires will be administered in person at three time points: baseline (before the first training session), immediately after completion of the education program, and during the early postpartum period (12-24 hours after birth). The study protocol has been developed and will be conducted in accordance with the CONSORT guidelines.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Between December 2025 and November 2026,
• Living in the province of Aksaray,
• Female,
• Between the ages of 18-40,
• Native language Turkish,
• Between the 28th-32nd weeks of pregnancy,
• In their first pregnancy,
• With a singleton pregnancy,
• Without any chronic disease or pregnancy complications,
• Without any diagnosed active psychiatric disorder,
• Having a mobile phone through which communication can be maintained,
• Not having participated in another childbirth preparation program,
• Not having participated in a prenatal psychoeducation and counseling program,
• Planning the mode of delivery as vaginal birth , women will be included in the sample.

Exclusion Criteria:

Between December 2025 and November 2026,

• Those whose native language is not Turkish,
• Those who are male,
• Those under 18 years of age or over 40,
• Those whose pregnancy is less than 28 weeks or more than 32 weeks,
• Those who have previously ended a pregnancy beyond 20 weeks with childbirth,
• Those who are multiparous,
• Those with multiple pregnancies,
• Those with any chronic illness,
• Those who experience any complication related to the mother or fetus/newborn during the research process,
• Those who need to undergo a cesarean section at any stage of pregnancy or childbirth,
• Those who develop mental health deviations during the research process and require professional support,
• Those who did not attend 80% of the training,
• Those who cannot be reached during the data collection process,
• Women who wish to withdraw from the study at any stage of the research will be excluded from the study.