Systematic review on music interventions during pregnancy in favor of the well-being of mothers and eventually their offspring

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Johanna Maul - , Clara Angela Foundation, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Susann Behnam - , Clara Angela Foundation (Author)
  • Pauline Wimberger - , Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Wolfgang Henrich - , Clara Angela Foundation, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Birgit Arabin - , Clara Angela Foundation, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Mental health affects maternal well-being and indirectly affects the development of fetal brain structures and motor and cognitive skills of the offspring up to adulthood. This study aimed to identify specific characteristics of music interventions that improve validated maternal outcomes. DATA SOURCES: Randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews investigating music interventions during pregnancy were identified from the start of data sources up to December 2023 using MEDLINE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, or Web of Science. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Using Covidence, 2 reviewers screened for randomized controlled trials with ≥3 music interventions during pregnancy and applied either the Perceived Stress Scale score, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory score, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score, or blood pressure as outcomes. METHODS: The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool 2, the checklist to assess Trustworthiness in RAndomised Clinical Trials, and the reversed Cohen d were applied. This review was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (registration number: CRD42022299950). RESULTS: From 251 detected records, 14 randomized controlled trials and 2375 pregnancies were included. Music interventions varied from 3 to 84 active or passive sessions with either patient-selected or preselected music and a duration of 10 to 60 minutes per session. Thereby, 2 of 4 studies observed a significant decrease in the Perceived Stress Scale, 8 of 9 studies observed a significant decrease in the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and 3 of 4 studies observed a significant decrease in the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Blood pressure was significantly reduced in 3 of 4 randomized controlled trials. The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool 2 was “high” in 5 of 14 studies or “with concerns” in 9 of 14 studies. Stratifying the Cohen d in 14 intervention arms suggested a big effect in 234 of 469 mothers on blood pressure and in 244 of 489 mothers on maternal anxiety and a medium effect in 284 of 529 mothers on maternal anxiety. Small or very small effects on blood pressure, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and the Perceived Stress Scale were observed in 35 of 70, 136 of 277, and 374 of 784 mothers-to-be, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our study found a general positive effect of music interventions on maternal stress resilience. This was independent of the music but was influenced by the frequency and empathy of the performances. How far music interventions may improve postnatal development and skills of the offspring should be increasingly evaluated with follow-ups to interrupt vicious epigenetic circles during global pandemics, violent conflicts, and natural catastrophes.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number101400
JournalAmerican Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology MFM
Volume6
Issue number8
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 38866136

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • maternal anxiety, maternal depression, maternal stress, maternal stress resilience, music in pregnancy, music interventions, programming of mental health, systematic review