Mental Health Outcomes and Putative Targets of an Online Mindfulness Program for New and Expectant Mothers: A Randomized Controlled Trial

We evaluated the extent to which the web-based Mindful Mood Balance for Moms (MMB-M) course without coaching support was associated with improved mental health outcomes and changes in putative targets of self-compassion and decentering relative to a waitlist control. Sixty pregnant or early parenting women with depression histories were randomly assigned to MMB-M or waitlist control (WLC). Participants completed self-report measures assessing depressive and anxiety symptom severity, decentering, and self-compassion biweekly during the 12-week program phase and at 6-month follow-up. Hierarchical and generalized linear models assessed between-group differences in mental health outcomes and putative mechanisms. There were no significant differences between conditions in mental health outcomes through week 8 (anxiety) or 12 (depression) or at 6-month follow-up. Regarding putative targets, self-warmth and decentering increased significantly more in MMB-M relative to WLC during the 12-week program. Self-warmth increased significantly more in MMB-M relative to WLC through 6-month follow-up. Study evidence indicated the MMB-M program targeted processes associated with well-being, though it did not support a significant benefit of the program without coaching on mental health outcomes relative to WLC. Providing participants with coaching support and orientation to web-based skills courses may be important for engagement and ultimately for improvements in mental health and putative mechanisms. Clinical Trials NCT05000879.