Effects of mindfulness-based interventions on mental health among women with fetal loss: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Xin Wang, Ying Luo, Ying Gao, Jun-Yan Li, Yan-Qiong Ouyang, Rong Wang
Midwifery July 15, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.midw.2025.104520 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA meta-analysis of ten randomized controlled trials found that mindfulness-based interventions significantly improve depression in women who have experienced fetal loss, with a large effect size. The interventions were effective for anxiety only in women without pre-existing anxiety symptoms. Improvements in post-traumatic growth were seen only with short-duration interventions (less than four weeks). The analysis notes that few high-quality trials exist, sample sizes are small, and long-term follow-up is lacking. The findings support integrating mindfulness-based interventions into psychosocial care, especially for women with prior psychological symptoms, and indicate a need for refined intervention strategies.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Systematic review and meta-analysis Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Women with fetal loss |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based interventions |
| Topics | Depression |
| Keywords | Fetal loss Mental health Mindfulness-based interventions |
| Key finding | Mindfulness-based interventions significantly improve depression in women with fetal loss, but their effect on anxiety is limited to those without pre-existing symptoms, and post-traumatic growth improvement is only seen with short-duration interventions. |
Abstract
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have shown potential in reducing maternal negative emotions, but their effectiveness for women with fetal loss requires further investigation. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of MBIs on mental health outcomes among these women. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on MBIs for women with fetal loss were retrieved from eight databases, covering literature from inception to January 21, 2025. Outcomes included depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic growth. Risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane RoB 1.0, and meta-analyses were performed using Review Manager 5.4. Ten RCTs were included. MBIs significantly improve depression (SMD=1.01, 95 %CI (0.60,1.41), p 0.05). For anxiety symptoms, MBIs were effective only in women without symptoms (SMD=1.57, p 4 weeks, SMD=0.74, p < 0.01). There are few high-quality RCTs, small sample sizes, and a lack of long-term follow-up. MBIs effectively improve mental health in women with fetal loss, with short-duration effects exceeding long-duration ones. These findings support the integration of MBIs into psychosocial care, particularly for women with pre-existing psychological symptoms, and highlight the need to refine intervention strategies.