Interventions for Psychological Stress in Pregnant African American Women: A Scoping Review.
Taleah A Frazier, Charity Lackey, Amnazo Muhirwa and 3 others
PMID 41082768WHAT IT FOUND
Stress interventions for pregnant African American women showed mixed results.
Quantitative data did not consistently prove reduced stress, but participants valued culturally matched support and mind-body techniques. Current evidence is too sparse to recommend specific protocols as effective treatments.
Key findings
01Quantitative outcomes for psychological stress were mixed, with some studies showing significant reductions and others showing no difference between intervention and control groups.
02Qualitative themes indicated that cultural matching and racial concordance with staff were highly valued by participants, fostering trust and a sense of being supported.
03Interventions were multifaceted, commonly combining education, social support, and mind-body exercises, but the evidence base is limited to only two randomized controlled trials.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The review included only 8 studies, a small number compared to typical scoping reviews, reflecting a sparse evidence base. Only two studies were randomized controlled trials, limiting the strength of causal inferences. Most studies used standardized stress measures that may not be culturally validated for African American women. The review excluded non-English articles and one study was not retrievable.
Declared interests
No conflicts of interest were reported in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the positive qualitative feedback as evidence that these interventions effectively reduce physiological or psychological stress outcomes. The quantitative data was mixed, and the evidence base is too small to support changing clinical protocols based on efficacy alone.