The effect of three- and six-session prenatal haptonomy on pregnancy-related anxiety, distress, and psychological well-being: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

This randomized controlled trial examined the effects of prenatal haptonomy on pregnancy-related anxiety, distress, and psychological well-being. A total of 102 pregnant women were randomly assigned to a three-session haptonomy group, a six-session haptonomy group, or a control group receiving routine antenatal care. Data were collected using the Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire-Revised 2, Tilburg Pregnancy Distress Scale, and Psychological Well-Being Scale at baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to evaluate group, time, and group × time effects, and effect sizes were reported using partial eta squared (partial η²). In intragroup analyses, the six-session haptonomy group demonstrated a significant reduction in pregnancy-related anxiety, whereas the three-session haptonomy group showed significant reductions in distress and improvements in psychological well-being. Intergroup comparisons revealed statistically significant differences in anxiety, distress, and psychological well-being scores between the haptonomy groups and the control group at post-intervention and follow-up. Repeated measures analysis demonstrated significant group effects for pregnancy-related anxiety, distress, and psychological well-being. These findings suggest that prenatal haptonomy may contribute to improved maternal psychological health during pregnancy, with different intervention durations associated with benefits at different assessment points.