Mindfulness and Maternal Mental Health

Based on the results reported in the existing literature that show that formal mindfulness-based practice is effective for improving mental health status and preventing depressive symptom relapse, this research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a brief mindfulness-based program, offered during pregnancy, in reducing mothers' psychological symptoms during pregnancy and the postpartum period. A brief program has the advantage being more economical to facilitate compared to full-length programs and also requires a shorter commitment from pregnant women, who are also attempting to manage multiple other new and existing demands (e.g., obstetrics appointments, work).

As emerging research suggests that women are particularly vulnerable to increased depressive, anxious, obsessive, compulsive, and hypomanic symptoms during the perinatal period these are the main psychological symptoms that will be assessed. As well, perceived stress and psychological resiliency will also be assessed for in order to examine changes in these domains in relation to mindfulness engagement. Furthermore, as a reduction in maternal psychological symptoms has been reported to have implications for mother-infant bond, the mother's interpersonal functioning, and maternal quality of life, the investigators will also assess to see if there are corresponding changes in these domains related to mindfulness engagement.

Inclusion criteria

• pregnant, age 18 years and older, able and willing to attend the study site for the four group sessions.

Exclusion criteria

• presence of a current severe mental health condition or mental heath difficulties that would be better addressed through another form of therapy, active major medical illness including significant obstetric complications, inability to give informed consent, inability to speak or understand English, at high risk for delivery before reaching full term (38 weeks gestation), or previous completion of a structured mindfulness-based program.