Online songwriting reduces loneliness and postnatal depression and enhances social connectedness in women with young babies: randomised controlled trial

Perkins, R. and Spiro, N. and Waddell, G. (2023) Online songwriting reduces loneliness and postnatal depression and enhances social connectedness in women with young babies: randomised controlled trial. Public Health, 220 pp. 72-79. ISSN 0033-3506

Abstract

Objective: Loneliness is a public health challenge associated with postnatal depression (PND). This study developed and tested an online songwriting intervention, with the aim of reducing loneliness and symptoms of PND and enhancing social connectedness among women with young babies. Study design: This was a two-armed non-blinded randomised controlled trial (RCT, ISRCTN17647261). Methods: Randomisation was conducted in Excel using a 1:1 allocation, with participants (N = 89) allocated to an online 6-week songwriting intervention (Songs from Home) or to waitlist control. Inclusion criteria were women aged ≥18 years, with a baby ≤9 months old, reporting loneliness (4+ on UCLA 3-Item Loneliness Scale) and symptoms of PND (10+ on Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale [EPDS]). Loneliness (UCLA-3) was measured at baseline, after each intervention session and at 4-week follow-up. The secondary measures of PND (EPDS) and social connectedness (Social Connectedness Revised 15-item Scale [SC-15]) were measured at baseline, postintervention and at 4-week follow-up (Week 10). Factorial mixed analyses of variance with planned custom contrasts were conducted for each outcome variable comparing the intervention and control groups over time and across baseline, Weeks 1–6 and the follow-up at Week 10 for each outcome variable. Results: Compared with waitlist control, the intervention group reported significantly lower scores postintervention and at follow-up for loneliness (P < 0.001, η2P = 0.098) and PND (P < 0.001, η2P = 0.174) and significantly higher scores at follow-up for social connectedness (P < 0.001, η2P = 0.173). Conclusions: A 6-week online songwriting intervention for women with young babies can reduce loneliness and symptoms of PND and increase social connectedness.

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