The effectiveness of an exercise intervention in reducing the severity of postpartum depression: A randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: This study aims to identify the effectiveness of an exercise program in reducing the severity of postnatal depression in women who had a spontaneous vaginal delivery.

Design And Methods: This randomized control trial was conducted with 65 postpartum women residing in a city located in south-eastern Turkey. In the first postpartum month, following random assignment of subjects, the experimental group (n = 40) performed exercises for 4 weeks, and the control group (n = 40) received standard care. The participating women were administered the Edinburgh postpartum depression scale.

Findings: The average age of the participants was 28.90 ± 4.83 (min:19, max:40). Pretest mean depression scores of the exercises (16.41 ± 1.61) and control group (15.74 ± 2.35) were found to be similar, and there were no statistically significant differences (P > .05). After the 4-week exercise program, a statistically significant difference was found between the posttest mean scores of the exercises (7.29 ± 1.67) and control (12.54 ± 2.65) group participants. Pretest mean scores were found to be similar, and there were no statistically significant differences (Z = -6.501, P = .001).

Conclusion: The 4-week exercise program was found to be an effective method in decreasing the severity of depressive symptoms experienced in the postpartum period. Nurses and midwives providing care in the postpartum period are recommended to provide women in this period with exercise training.

Practice Implications: Postpartum depression is a specific psychological disorder in which preventive interventions might lead to dramatic benefits. Exercises done in the postpartum period are reported to enable psychosocial well-being, less anxiety, and depression.