Publication
The Effect of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Anticipatory Grief in NICU Mothers
Pardeneshin L, Nourian M, Nasiri M, Maddah M, Naseri N, Varzeshnejad M · Journal of Loss and Trauma · 2025
Anticipatory grief is an important psychological challenge affecting both maternal health and infant care quality. This study explored the impact of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) on anticipatory grief in mothers with infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Conducted as a semi-experimental study in 2023, 70 mothers of chronically ill infants hospitalized for at least 2 weeks were selected via convenience sampling. Participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention or control group. Both groups completed demographic and grief assessments using the Benfield anticipatory grief scale. The intervention group received eight 90-minute MBCT sessions over 4 weeks. Postintervention analysis showed no significant demographic differences between groups, ensuring group comparability. Statistical tests (independent t-test, chi-square, Mann-Whitney U, and repeated measures ANOVA) confirmed that MBCT significantly reduced anticipatory grief among the intervention group compared to the control group. The findings support the effectiveness of MBCT in reducing anticipatory grief and suggest its broader implementation in NICUs to support maternal mental health and improve infant care outcomes.
Synced from the TRENDS in Pediatric Palliative Care Zotero library, curated by The Siden Research Team. ICPCN does not host or verify the full text.