Evaluation of a web-based intervention to optimize perinatal emotional wellbeing: A nested case-control study

Kuipers, Yvonne J; Bleijenbergh, Roxanne; Rimaux, Sophie; Mestdagh, Eveline

Abstract

Background/Objective: WazzUp Mama© is a remotely delivered web-based tailored intervention to prevent and reduce perinatal emotional distress, originally developed in the Netherlands. The current study aimed to evaluate the adapted WazzUp Mama© intervention in a Flemish (Dutch-speaking part of Belgium) perinatal population.

Methods: A 1:3 nested case-control study was performed. A data set including 676 participants (169 cases/507 controls) was composed based on core characteristics. Using independent t-test and chi-square, the two groups were compared for mean depression, self and perceived stigma, depression literacy scores, and for positive Whooley items and heightened depression scores. The primary analysis was adjusted for covariates.

Results: The number of positive Whooley items, the above cut-off depression scores, mean depression, perceived stigma, and depression literacy scores showed statistically significant differences between cases and controls, in favor of the intervention group. When adjusting for the covariates, the statistically significant differences between cases and controls remained for depression, perceived stigma, and depression literacy, for the positive Whooley items and for above cut-off depression scores.

Conclusion: WazzUp Mama© indicates to have a moderate to large positive effect on optimizing perinatal emotional wellbeing, to positively change perceived stigma and to increase depression literacy.

Citation

Kuipers, Y. J., Bleijenbergh, R., Rimaux, S., & Mestdagh, E. (2024). Evaluation of a web-based intervention to optimize perinatal emotional wellbeing: A nested case-control study. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, 24(1), 100422. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijchp.2023.100422

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 31, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Nov 7, 2023
• Publication Date: 2024-01
• Deposit Date: Nov 7, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 10, 2023
• Journal: International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology
• Electronic ISSN: 2174-0852
• Publisher: Asociación Española de Psicología Conductual
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 24
• Issue: 1
• Article Number: 100422
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijchp.2023.100422
• Keywords: Depression literacy; Digital intervention; Emotional wellbeing; Perinatal stigma
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/3371775