Effects of Short-Term Music Therapy on Negative Emotions and Quality of Life in Primiparas.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the effects of short-term music therapy on primiparas' negative emotions and quality of life.

Methods: In this study, 101 pregnant women awaiting delivery in the obstetric department of the hospital from January 2022 to January 2023 were retrospectively analysed. Eleven pregnant women did not fulfil the inclusion criteria, resulting in the inclusion of 90 pregnant women. The control group had 45 pregnant women admitted from January to July 2022, while the observation group had 45 pregnant women admitted from August 2022 to January 2023. The stress index, anxiety, depression, delivery and quality of life were compared between the two groups.

Results: Upon admission, no significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of stress index, self-anxiety scale (SAS) score, self-depression scale (SDS) score and quality of life (P > 0.05). During the second stage of labour, the levels of renin, epinephrine and norepinephrine were significantly lower in the study group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the study group exhibited lower SAS and SDS scores than the control group (P < 0.001). Notably, the total labour time was significantly shorter in the study group than in the control group (P < 0.05), but no significant difference was found between two groups in terms of bleeding 2 hours after delivery (P > 0.05). The 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) scores of the study group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: Short-term music therapy can reduce the stress response of primiparas, relieve their anxiety and depression, shorten the total labour process and improve their quality of life.