Browsing by Author "MacKinnon, Anna"
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- ItemOpen AccessBuilding Emotional Awareness and Mental Health (BEAM): an open-pilot and feasibility study of a digital mental health and parenting intervention for mothers of infants(2023-02-18) Xie, E. B.; Freeman, Makayla; Penner-Goeke, Lara; Reynolds, Kristin; Lebel, Catherine; Giesbrecht, Gerald F.; Rioux, Charlie; MacKinnon, Anna; Sauer-Zavala, Shannon; Roos, Leslie E.; Tomfohr-Madsen, LianneAbstract Background Maternal mental health concerns and parenting stress in the first few years following childbirth are common and pose significant risks to maternal and child well-being. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to increases in maternal depression and anxiety and has presented unique parenting stressors. Although early intervention is crucial, there are significant barriers to accessing care. Methods To inform a larger randomized controlled trial, the current open-pilot trial investigated initial evidence for the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of a newly developed online group therapy and app-based mental health and parenting program (BEAM) for mothers of infants. Forty-six mothers 18 years or older with clinically elevated depression scores, with an infant aged 6–17 months old, and who lived in Manitoba or Alberta were enrolled in the 10-week program (starting in July 2021) and completed self-report surveys. Results The majority of participants engaged in each of the program components at least once and participants indicated relatively high levels of app satisfaction, ease of use, and usefulness. However, there was a high level of attrition (46%). Paired-sample t-tests indicated significant pre- to post-intervention change in maternal depression, anxiety, and parenting stress, and in child internalizing, but not externalizing symptoms. Effect sizes were in the medium to high range, with the largest effect size observed for depressive symptoms (Cohen’s d = .93). Discussion This study shows moderate levels of feasibility and strong preliminary efficacy of the BEAM program. Limitations to program design and delivery are being addressed for testing in adequately powered follow-up trials of the BEAM program for mothers of infants. Trial registration NCT04772677 . Registered on February 26 2021.
- ItemOpen AccessSleep and mental health in pregnancy during COVID-19: A parallel process growth model(Elsevier, 2022-07-21) Tomfohr-Madsen, Lianne; Rioux, Charlie; MacKinnon, Anna; Silang, Katherine; Roos, Leslie; Lebel, CatherinePregnancy is associated with elevated risk for poor sleep quality, which increases the risk for poor obstetrical outcomes and parent mental health problems. The COVID-19 pandemic has seen increased reports of disturbed sleep worldwide; however, the degree this extends to pregnancy or influences pregnancy mental health outcomes has not been examined. The goal of this study was to examine changes in pregnant individuals’ sleep, anxiety and depression during the pandemic, and to understand how sleep was associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression over time. The Pregnancy During the COVID-19 Pandemic (PdP) study is a prospective longitudinal cohort of pregnant individuals (at enrollment) with repeated follow ups during pregnancy and the postpartum period. 3747 pregnant individuals participated between April and July 2020. The present analysis was restricted to participants who completed at least two assessments, yielding a final sample of 1842 pregnant individuals. Depression symptoms were elevated at baseline, and declined gradually over time, but remained elevated relative to pre pandemic levels. Shorter sleep duration, higher sleep disturbance, and more sleep related impairments at baseline predicted a slower decline in depression symptoms over time. More sleep disturbances at baseline also predicted slower decline in anxiety symptoms over time. In contrast, rates of depression and anxiety symptoms at baseline were not predictive of changes in any of the three sleep variables over time. These findings highlight the importance of early intervention for sleep problems in pregnancy, in order to optimize mental health throughout pregnancy and mitigate long term negative outcomes.