Table 1 Summary of included studies
From: Music interventions to reduce stress and anxiety in pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Study | Method | Sample | Intervention | Outcome measures and timing of assessment | Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bauer et al. (2010) [17] | RCT | 80 women, mean age 31.4 yrs., 24–36 weeks gestation at enrolment, medically high risk | Intervention (n = 19): 1 × 1 h with music therapist – 90% participants chose music-focused relaxation. Intervention (n = 19): 1 × 1 h relaxation intervention – 90% participants chose creative arts. Control (n = 42): waitlist attention group. | • Distress (Antepartum Bedrest Emotional Impact Inventory) Baseline + immediately post intervention + 48–72 h after intervention | Distress was significantly reduced by music and relaxation when compared to the control group. |
Chang et al. (2008) [2] | RCT | 236 women, mean age 30.3 yrs., 18-22 weeks or 30-34 weeks gestation at enrolment, medically low risk | Intervention (n = 116): routine antenatal care plus listening to music for 2 weeks for 30 min/day. 4 types of music to choose from: lullabies, classical music, nature sounds, and crystal music. Control (n = 120) = routine antenatal care. | • Stress (Perceived Stress Scale) • Anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) Baseline + immediately post intervention | Music significantly reduced both stress and anxiety. However, stress was also significantly reduced in the control group. |
Chang et al. (2015) [18] | RCT | 296 women, aged between 24 and 41 yrs., gestational age ≥ 17 weeks at enrolment, medically low risk | Intervention (n = 145): routine antenatal care plus listening to music for 2 weeks for 30 min/day. 5 types of music to choose from: crystal music, nature sounds, classical music, lullabies and symphonic music. Control (n = 151): routine antenatal care | • Stress (Perceived Stress Scale) • Pregnancy Specific Stress (Pregnancy Stress Rating Scale) Baseline + immediately post intervention | Music listening did not significantly reduce stress scores; while pregnancy specific stress was significantly reduced by music. |
Shin & Kim (2011) [19] | Quasi-experimental: non-equivalent control group non-synchronised design | 233 women, modal age 30-34 yrs., 1st trimester at enrolment, medically low risk | Intervention (n = 117): listening to music for a single 30 min session during Transvaginal Ultrasound. Music chosen by researchers; ‘Prenatal music album with the sound of nature’ Control (n = 116): Transvaginal Ultrasound without music. | • Anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) • Pregnancy Specific Stress (Pregnancy Stress Scale) Baseline + immediately post intervention | Music significantly reduced anxiety compared to the control group. However, it did not significantly reduce pregnancy specific stress scores. |
Yang et al. (2009) [20] | RCT | 120 participants, “most (96.7%) were under 35 years old”, gestational age: 28-36 weeks at enrolment, medically high risk | Intervention (n = 60): usual care plus listening to music for 3 days for 30 min/day. 3 types of music to choose from: classical music, pleasant music, and Chinese folk music. Control (n = 60): usual care | • Anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) Baseline + immediately post Intervention | Significantly larger reduction of anxiety in the music group than the control group. |