This randomized pilot trial tests a brief psycho-educational group program designed to enhance maternal reflective functioning (RF)-the capacity to understand one's own and the baby's behavior in terms of thoughts and feelings-among first-time mothers in the early postpartum. Primiparous women aged ≥18 years, 1-5 months postpartum, were randomized 1:1 to the intervention or a wait-list control. The intervention consists of four weekly 90-minute Zoom sessions with short home practices. The primary outcome is interview-based RF assessed with the FMSS-RF (blind-coded) at post-intervention. Exploratory outcomes include self-reported RF (PRFQ-CMS), depressive symptoms (EPDS), emotion-regulation (ERQ-Suppression), and feasibility/acceptability indices (recruitment, retention, attendance, satisfaction). This single-site study is conducted at the University of Haifa (Faculty of Education). If effective, the low-intensity, telehealth format may offer a scalable postpartum support option for first-time mothers.
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Change in interview-based maternal reflective functioning (FMSS-RF) from baseline to post-intervention
Timeframe: Baseline (T1) and post-intervention at ~4-5 weeks (T2)