Effects of psychosocial support-based psychoeducation for Turkish pregnant adolescents on anxiety, depression and perceived social support: a randomized controlled study

Abstract

Introduction: In this study, a psychosocial support-based (PSSB) psychoeducation program was provided to pregnant adolescents for improving their mental health and providing them with knowledge and skills to make positive behavioral changes. This study aimed to determine the effect of PSSB psychoeducation on anxiety, depression and perceived social support. Methods: This study was conducted using a pre-test-post-test randomized controlled design. The population of the study included pregnant adolescents presenting to the obstetrics and gynecology outpatient clinic of a state hospital located in eastern Turkey. The sample size, determined using power analysis, included 105 pregnant adolescents (experimental group n=50, control group n=55). The participants in the experimental group were given PSSB psychoeducation. The control group did not receive any intervention. The data were collected using an introductory characteristics form, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. SPSS v24.0 was used to analyze the data, and p-values less than 0.05 were accepted as statistically significant. Results: It was established that there was a significant decrease in the anxiety and depression levels and a significant increase in the perceived social support levels in the experimental group in comparison to the control group after the PSSB psychoeducation intervention (p<0.05). In the intragroup comparisons, the difference between the pre-test and post-test scores for anxiety, depression and perceived social support was statistically significant in the experimental group (p<0.05), whereas this difference was insignificant in the control group (p>0.05). Conclusion: The PSSB psychoeducation program reduced anxiety and depression and increased perceived social support levels of the pregnant adolescents. The PSSB psychoeducation program is a useful practical intervention for the mental health of pregnant adolescents. Thus, we recommend that psychiatric nurses take an active role in planning and implementing psychosocial interventions for pregnant adolescents and develop culture-specific interventions. Keywords: adolescent pregnancy, anxiety, depression, perceived social support, psychiatric nursing, psychoeducation, psychosocial support, Turkey.