TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of the STress-And-coping suppoRT (START) intervention on depression and coping of Chinese women seeking a first-trimester abortion
T2 - A randomized controlled trial
AU - Wang, Na
AU - Wang, Meng
AU - Huang, Jing
AU - Allen, Jyai
AU - Elder, Elizabeth
AU - Fu, Li
AU - Lu, Hong
AU - Creedy, Debra K.
AU - Gamble, Jenny
N1 - Funding Information:
The first author is supported by a Griffith University International Postgraduate Research Scholarship. The sponsor has no involvement in making decisions on the design, conduction, or reporting of the trial.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2023/3/1
Y1 - 2023/3/1
N2 - Background: Abortion is a stressful life event associated with wide variability in women's perceptions and adjustment. There is scarce evidence on interventions to help women cope with abortion and achieve positive psychological health outcomes. This study tested the effect of a stress and coping theory-formed intervention (START) on depression and coping of Chinese women undergoing a first-trimester abortion. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted at a Chinese metropolitan hospital. 110 participants were recruited and randomized to intervention group (START + standard care) or control group (standard care) with a 1:1 allocation ratio. The primary outcome was depression at two-week post-abortion. Surveys were completed by participants when they sought abortion services (baseline), two and six-week post-abortion. Results: At two-week post-abortion, women allocated to the intervention group compared to the control group, had significantly lower depression scores (aOR −2.81 [−4.12 to −1.50]), higher problem-focused coping (aOR 1.64 [0.36–2.93]), lower dysfunctional coping (aOR −2.29 [−3.69 to −0.89]), higher self-efficacy (aOR 3.17 [−0.42–5.94]), and higher personal growth scores (aOR 4.41 [0.30–8.53]). Lower depression scores at two-weeks were mediated by lower dysfunctional coping (mediated effect 0.96 [0.25, 1.74]; proportion of overall effect 36 % [9 %, 65 %]). Conclusion: Chinese women allocated to receive START had lower depression and better coping at two-week post-abortion. This brief, online intervention contributed to women's self-efficacy and positive perceptions of social support, abortion experience, and personal growth. Maintenance of the effects need further research.
AB - Background: Abortion is a stressful life event associated with wide variability in women's perceptions and adjustment. There is scarce evidence on interventions to help women cope with abortion and achieve positive psychological health outcomes. This study tested the effect of a stress and coping theory-formed intervention (START) on depression and coping of Chinese women undergoing a first-trimester abortion. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted at a Chinese metropolitan hospital. 110 participants were recruited and randomized to intervention group (START + standard care) or control group (standard care) with a 1:1 allocation ratio. The primary outcome was depression at two-week post-abortion. Surveys were completed by participants when they sought abortion services (baseline), two and six-week post-abortion. Results: At two-week post-abortion, women allocated to the intervention group compared to the control group, had significantly lower depression scores (aOR −2.81 [−4.12 to −1.50]), higher problem-focused coping (aOR 1.64 [0.36–2.93]), lower dysfunctional coping (aOR −2.29 [−3.69 to −0.89]), higher self-efficacy (aOR 3.17 [−0.42–5.94]), and higher personal growth scores (aOR 4.41 [0.30–8.53]). Lower depression scores at two-weeks were mediated by lower dysfunctional coping (mediated effect 0.96 [0.25, 1.74]; proportion of overall effect 36 % [9 %, 65 %]). Conclusion: Chinese women allocated to receive START had lower depression and better coping at two-week post-abortion. This brief, online intervention contributed to women's self-efficacy and positive perceptions of social support, abortion experience, and personal growth. Maintenance of the effects need further research.
KW - Abortion
KW - Coping
KW - Depression
KW - Randomized controlled trial
KW - Self-efficacy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85144922333&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jad.2022.12.086
DO - 10.1016/j.jad.2022.12.086
M3 - Article
C2 - 36584700
AN - SCOPUS:85144922333
SN - 0165-0327
VL - 324
SP - 121
EP - 128
JO - Journal of Affective Disorders
JF - Journal of Affective Disorders
ER -