Effect of Reduced Lighting on Psychological Well-Being During a Non-Stress Test in Pregnant Women: A Randomized Controlled Study

Abstract

Objectives

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of light brightness on stress, anxiety, and psychological well-being during non-stress test (NST) measurements.

Background

Emotional and environmental factors that may cause stress and anxiety in pregnant women should be carefully evaluated and the necessary measures should be taken before and during the applications to pregnant women.

Methods

This research was conducted with 100 pregnant women as a randomized controlled experimental study. Data were collected using a personal information form, the psychological well-being questionnaire (PWQ), the perceived stress scale (PSS), and the state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI), which were administered before and after the NST measurement.

Results

There were significant intra-group differences between the mean pre-test (before NST) and post-test (after NST) scores of the pregnant women in the intervention group on the scales used in the study [PWQ pre-test (33.90 ± 9.18) and post-test (36.24 ± 7.83); PSS pre-test (32.26 ± 6.74) and post-test (27.0 ± 4.13); STAI pre-test (48.88 ± 4.04) and post-test (46.26 ± 3.97)] (p < 0.05). The difference between the mean pre-test (33.98 ± 9.11) and post-test (33.86 ± 9.04) PWQ scores of the pregnant women in the control group was insignificant. But there was a significant difference between the mean pre-test (32.08 ± 6.64) and post-test (33.0 ± 6.77) PSS scores of this group (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The results of the study indicated that reducing ambient light brightness levels during NST measurements increased pregnant women's psychological well-being and reduced their stress and anxiety.

Keywords

anxiety light pregnant women psychological well-being

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