Determining the effect of yoga exercises on psychological health and childbirth trauma in pregnant women: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background This study aimed to evaluate the effects of yoga exercises on psychological health during pregnancy and their role in reducing childbirth trauma. Methods A pretest-posttest randomized controlled trial design was used. The sample included 64 pregnant women who applied to a maternity hospital in XXX province between November 2023 and November 2024. Inclusion criteria were being over 18 years of age, at least 16 weeks pregnant, without a psychiatric diagnosis, or a high-risk pregnancy. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 30) and a control group (n = 34). The intervention group received 45-minute yoga sessions twice a week for 5 weeks (10 sessions total), in addition to birth preparation training given to both groups. Data were collected before and after the program. This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (20 June 2025, Identifier: NCT07031622). Results The yoga intervention significantly improved psychological resilience in the intervention group compared to the control group, with a marked increase in BPSR scores from pretest to posttest (M = 17.60 +/- 3.59 to 23.13 +/- 3.85; t = - 6.63, p < .001, d = 1.21). Significant reductions were observed in state anxiety (56.50 +/- 14.40 to 43.90 +/- 4.31; p < .001) and trait anxiety (59.37 +/- 10.27 to 51.83 +/- 10.75; p < .001) following the intervention. Traumatic childbirth perception scores decreased significantly over time in the intervention group (F = 56.26, p < 0.001, eta & sup2; = 0.66), while scores increased in the control group. Postpartum assessments showed significantly lower childbirth trauma and post-traumatic stress scores in the intervention group compared to controls (p < 0.05). Conclusion Yoga is an effective method to reduce childbirth-related trauma and strengthen psychological resilience during pregnancy. Integrating yoga into prenatal care programs can improve maternal mental health and birth outcomes. Health professionals should consider recommending yoga as part of comprehensive prenatal support