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The Psychological Effects of Aromatherapy‐Massage in Healthy Postpartum Mothers
Author(s) -
Imura Masumi,
Misao Hanako,
Ushijima Hiroshi
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the journal of midwifery and womens health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.543
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1542-2011
pISSN - 1526-9523
DOI - 10.1016/j.jmwh.2005.08.009
Subject(s) - aromatherapy , massage , mood , anxiety , medicine , feeling , physical therapy , intervention (counseling) , rating scale , psychology , nursing , clinical psychology , psychiatry , developmental psychology , alternative medicine , social psychology , pathology
This study examined the effect of aromatherapy‐massage in healthy postpartum mothers. A quasi‐experimental between‐groups design was used. Mothers who received aromatherapy‐massage were compared with a control group who received standard postpartum care. Thirty‐six healthy, first‐time mothers with vaginal delivery of a full‐term, healthy infant participated in this study. Sixteen mothers received a 30‐minute aromatherapy‐massage on the second postpartum day; 20 mothers were in the control group. All mothers completed the following four standardized questionnaires before and after the intervention: 1) Maternity Blues Scale; 2) State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory; 3) Profile of Mood States (POMS); and 4) Feeling toward Baby Scale. In the aromatherapy‐massage group, posttreatment scores significantly decreased for the Maternity Blues Scale, the State‐Anxiety Inventory, and all but one of the Profile of Mood States subscales. Posttreatment scores in the intervention group significantly increased in Profile of Mood States‐Vigor subscale and the Approach Feeling toward Baby subscale. Scores in the intervention group significantly decreased in Conflict Index of Avoidance/Approach Feeling toward Baby subscale. Our results suggest that aromatherapy‐massage might be an effective intervention for postpartum mothers to improve physical and mental status and to facilitate mother‐infant interaction.