Trait mindfulness in early pregnancy and adverse perinatal outcomes: a prospective cohort study
Abstract Background Mindfulness centered therapy has been shown to improve perinatal mental health outcomes. There is emerging evidence that mindfulness training (MT) can also be harnessed to improve somatic outcomes. Yet, little is known about which perinatal populations might benefit the most from...
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BMC
2025-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07194-y |
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| author | Audra C. Fain Tess E. K. Cersonsky Margaret H. Bublitz Adam K. Lewkowitz Erika F. Werner Emily S. Miller Nina K. Ayala |
| author_facet | Audra C. Fain Tess E. K. Cersonsky Margaret H. Bublitz Adam K. Lewkowitz Erika F. Werner Emily S. Miller Nina K. Ayala |
| author_sort | Audra C. Fain |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Mindfulness centered therapy has been shown to improve perinatal mental health outcomes. There is emerging evidence that mindfulness training (MT) can also be harnessed to improve somatic outcomes. Yet, little is known about which perinatal populations might benefit the most from mindfulness training interventions. We aimed to evaluate the association between trait mindfulness and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Methods This is a planned secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study of nulliparous participants recruited between May 2019 and February 2022 from a single, high volume tertiary care center. Participants completed the validated Mindfulness and Attentive Awareness Scale prior to 20 weeks gestation. Trained research staff abstracted pregnancy and delivery data. The primary outcome was unplanned cesarean delivery (CD). Secondary outcomes included gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and a neonatal morbidity composite. We examined outcomes by mindfulness quartile (Q), adjusting for covariates determined a priori. Results Of the 281 participants with full outcome data, 47.9% experienced one or more of the adverse perinatal outcomes and the median trait mindfulness score was 4.6 (IQR 3.9–5.3). After adjusting for potential confounders, there were significantly lower rates of CD rates in those in Q2 and Q3 compared to Q4 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] Q2 0.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.20 – 0.87, Q3 aOR 0.23, 95% CI 0.10–0.51). There were no differences in rates of gestational diabetes, hypertension or composite neonatal outcomes by trait mindfulness quartile. Conclusions In this prospective cohort of nulliparous people, those with trait mindfulness in the 2nd and 3rd quartiles had lower rates of CD. Given prior literature suggesting active MT decreases adverse outcomes, there may be a component of the active practice of mindfulness, rather than trait mindfulness levels, associated with improved outcomes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-af0b3ad9609c42888d8c251d4d1f95bd |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2393 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
| spelling | doaj-art-af0b3ad9609c42888d8c251d4d1f95bd2025-01-26T12:57:04ZengBMCBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth1471-23932025-01-012511710.1186/s12884-025-07194-yTrait mindfulness in early pregnancy and adverse perinatal outcomes: a prospective cohort studyAudra C. Fain0Tess E. K. Cersonsky1Margaret H. Bublitz2Adam K. Lewkowitz3Erika F. Werner4Emily S. Miller5Nina K. Ayala6Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine UCLADepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Icahn School of Medicine Mount SinaiDepartment of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown UniversityDivision of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode IslandDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tufts University School of MedicineDivision of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode IslandDivision of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode IslandAbstract Background Mindfulness centered therapy has been shown to improve perinatal mental health outcomes. There is emerging evidence that mindfulness training (MT) can also be harnessed to improve somatic outcomes. Yet, little is known about which perinatal populations might benefit the most from mindfulness training interventions. We aimed to evaluate the association between trait mindfulness and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Methods This is a planned secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study of nulliparous participants recruited between May 2019 and February 2022 from a single, high volume tertiary care center. Participants completed the validated Mindfulness and Attentive Awareness Scale prior to 20 weeks gestation. Trained research staff abstracted pregnancy and delivery data. The primary outcome was unplanned cesarean delivery (CD). Secondary outcomes included gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and a neonatal morbidity composite. We examined outcomes by mindfulness quartile (Q), adjusting for covariates determined a priori. Results Of the 281 participants with full outcome data, 47.9% experienced one or more of the adverse perinatal outcomes and the median trait mindfulness score was 4.6 (IQR 3.9–5.3). After adjusting for potential confounders, there were significantly lower rates of CD rates in those in Q2 and Q3 compared to Q4 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] Q2 0.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.20 – 0.87, Q3 aOR 0.23, 95% CI 0.10–0.51). There were no differences in rates of gestational diabetes, hypertension or composite neonatal outcomes by trait mindfulness quartile. Conclusions In this prospective cohort of nulliparous people, those with trait mindfulness in the 2nd and 3rd quartiles had lower rates of CD. Given prior literature suggesting active MT decreases adverse outcomes, there may be a component of the active practice of mindfulness, rather than trait mindfulness levels, associated with improved outcomes.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07194-yTrait mindfulnessPregnancyMaternal morbidityAdverse perinatal outcomes |
| spellingShingle | Audra C. Fain Tess E. K. Cersonsky Margaret H. Bublitz Adam K. Lewkowitz Erika F. Werner Emily S. Miller Nina K. Ayala Trait mindfulness in early pregnancy and adverse perinatal outcomes: a prospective cohort study BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Trait mindfulness Pregnancy Maternal morbidity Adverse perinatal outcomes |
| title | Trait mindfulness in early pregnancy and adverse perinatal outcomes: a prospective cohort study |
| title_full | Trait mindfulness in early pregnancy and adverse perinatal outcomes: a prospective cohort study |
| title_fullStr | Trait mindfulness in early pregnancy and adverse perinatal outcomes: a prospective cohort study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Trait mindfulness in early pregnancy and adverse perinatal outcomes: a prospective cohort study |
| title_short | Trait mindfulness in early pregnancy and adverse perinatal outcomes: a prospective cohort study |
| title_sort | trait mindfulness in early pregnancy and adverse perinatal outcomes a prospective cohort study |
| topic | Trait mindfulness Pregnancy Maternal morbidity Adverse perinatal outcomes |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07194-y |
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