Reflective parenting home visiting program: A longitudinal study on the effects upon depression, anxiety and parenting stress in first-time mothers

OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to investigate the effects of a reflective parenting home visiting program in first time-mothers at risk for depression, anxiety, and parenting stress, from three to 12 months after their child's birth. STUDY DESIGN: The sample was composed by 77 first-time mothers and their healthy babies (53% boys and 47% girls). Mothers filled out the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Parenting Stress Index-SF at 3, 6 and 12 months of the child. Thirty-six mothers were assigned to the experimental group and received the reflective parenting home-visiting program, the other 36 constituted the control group. RESULTS: Analyses showed a significant higher reduction in the level of depression, anxiety and parenting stress among mothers belonging to the experimental group, compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Our findings confirm the benefits of reflective parenting home visiting programs and underline the need to constantly evaluate the levels of depression, anxiety and parenting stress throughout the perinatal period to target effective prevention programs to foster early mother-child attachment bond.