Supporting the emotional wellbeing of fathers through a mindfulness intervention during their transitions in parenthood: a pilot study

It is well recognised that men play a pivotal in supporting their pregnant partners through the perinatal period and beyond. However, there is also evidence indicating that high levels of stress are as prevalent among men as for women in the perinatal period. Ongoing exposure to stress is likely to complicate the changes experienced by men in the transition to parenthood or in adding another child to the family. There is evidence in the professional literature that engagement in mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) programs can decrease stress, anxiety and depression and increase mindfulness in men. However, to date there have been no evaluations of the effectiveness of online MBSR programs for men with pregnant partners. Although the findings of this pilot study should be interpreted with caution, they have a number of strengths when using established and validated tools.