Online singing intervention associated with a reduction in depression, anxiety, and perceived stress symptoms in mothers with postnatal depression – the SHAPER-PNDO study

Melodies for Mums (M4M) is a community-based singing intervention for women with symptoms of postnatal depression. SHAPER-PNDO was a single-arm online study on M4M run in 2021 during COVID-19 lockdowns. Participants (n=37), 16% taking psychotropic medication, were assigned to a 6-week online singing intervention. A package of measures was collected at baseline, week 6 (end of intervention), and week 32 (follow-up). The Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to assess depression symptoms, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Y2) for trait anxiety, and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) for perceived stress. The mean depression scores were lower at week 6 (BDI average score of 20.6 at baseline versus 11.2 at week 6, p <0.0001, t=5.830). A marked reduction was seen at follow-up (week 32): an average score of 9.6, p <0.0001, t=6.020). Trait anxiety scores were reduced at week 6, from a baseline STAI-Y2 mean score of 46.3 to 44.2 at week 6 (p= 0.0116, t=2.714). At follow-up, scores were further reduced (mean 43.3, p= 0.0117, t=2.869). Perceived stress scores were significantly lower at week 32 (PSS mean score at baseline 20.1 versus 17.9 at follow-up, p=0.0138, t=2.766) but no difference was found at week 6. These preliminary data indicate that 6-weeks of singing sessions delivered online may positively impact depression, anxiety, and stress scores in new mothers. These findings which are part of SHAPER-PNDO could pave the way for community singing interventions to be integrated into standard care for PND.