아주대학교 라이프미디어협동과정
아주대학교 심리학과
Life Media Interdisciplinary Programs, Suwon, Korea
Department of Psychology, Ajou University, Suwon, Korea
Copyright: © The Korean Journal of Stress Research
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Session | Activities | Details |
---|---|---|
1 | Breathing meditation | A method that focuses on breathing. The subject observes the senses at areas sensitive to breathing such as nose, chest, and belly. The two types of meditation include focusing on the senses during breathing, and coming back to breathing if attention wander to another thought or sense. |
2 | Safe space | An application of the compassion focused therapy by Gilbert(2013). The subject imagines themself in a quiet ‘safe space’ and practices having a kind and generous heart toward herself. |
LKCM - self |
Training that hopes for happiness, peace, and a healthy delivery. The following passages are repeated silently and the subject is encouraged to be aware of her internal change. 1) I will be happy 2) I will not be painful. 3) I will have a healthy delivery. |
|
3 | LKCM -extension 1 | The training method is the same, except for the ‘LKCM -self’ part. The range is expanded starting from her fetus, to the mothers in the same program, and to their fetuses. The subjects continue hoping for loving-kindness and compassion and a healthy delivery. |
4 | LKCM -extension 2 | The training method that extends the objects of kindness to those around you. The subjects include family and friends, relatives, and neighbors, and are thought of naturally. |
All | Body scan | The training method where focus is intentionally placed on the body, and the subject is aware of the body’s senses. A method that is widely used in meditation programs. Very helpful for managing stress, anxiety, and physical pain (Ahn HY, 2014; Jung AJ, 2015). |
Banding meditation | A meditation method created by this program to help be aware of the fetus and create a healthy maternal fetus relationship. Based on connection with the fetus through breathing, the subject hopes for the health and happiness of the fetus. The goal is to improve the physical and psychological connection between the mother and the fetus. |
Session | Subject | Time table |
---|---|---|
Module 1 | ||
1 | Introduction Education: pregnancy and stress Session goal: awareness of the wandering state of the mind |
Introduction (10 mins) Education (15 mins) Breathing meditating (15 mins) |
2 | Education: need for self-kindness Session goal: to be kind to oneself |
Education (15 mins) Safe space (10 mins) Self-compassion (15 mins) |
Module 2 | ||
3 | Education: understanding love for a fetus understanding the importance of extending LKCM Session goal: extending loving-kindness and compassion to the fetus and other mothers |
Education (10 mins) LKCM for my child (10 mins) LKCM for all mothers (10 mins) LKCM for all children (10 mins) |
4 | Review previous session Session goal: extending loving-kindness and compassion to those around us |
Education (10 mins) LKCM for those around us (10 mins) Post-tests and interviews |
Session | Activities | Details |
---|---|---|
1 | Breathing meditation | A method that focuses on breathing. The subject observes the senses at areas sensitive to breathing such as nose, chest, and belly. The two types of meditation include focusing on the senses during breathing, and coming back to breathing if attention wander to another thought or sense. |
2 | Safe space | An application of the compassion focused therapy by Gilbert(2013). The subject imagines themself in a quiet ‘safe space’ and practices having a kind and generous heart toward herself. |
LKCM - self | Training that hopes for happiness, peace, and a healthy delivery. The following passages are repeated silently and the subject is encouraged to be aware of her internal change. 1) I will be happy 2) I will not be painful. 3) I will have a healthy delivery. |
|
3 | LKCM -extension 1 | The training method is the same, except for the ‘LKCM -self’ part. The range is expanded starting from her fetus, to the mothers in the same program, and to their fetuses. The subjects continue hoping for loving-kindness and compassion and a healthy delivery. |
4 | LKCM -extension 2 | The training method that extends the objects of kindness to those around you. The subjects include family and friends, relatives, and neighbors, and are thought of naturally. |
All | Body scan | The training method where focus is intentionally placed on the body, and the subject is aware of the body’s senses. A method that is widely used in meditation programs. Very helpful for managing stress, anxiety, and physical pain (Ahn HY, 2014; Jung AJ, 2015). |
Banding meditation | A meditation method created by this program to help be aware of the fetus and create a healthy maternal fetus relationship. Based on connection with the fetus through breathing, the subject hopes for the health and happiness of the fetus. The goal is to improve the physical and psychological connection between the mother and the fetus. |
Categories | n | % |
---|---|---|
Age | ||
20~29 | 1 | 12.5 |
30~39 | 7 | 77.5 |
Gestational period at baseline (week) | ||
10~20 | 3 | 37.5 |
20~30 | 4 | 40.0 |
30~ | 1 | 12.5 |
Pregnancy experience | ||
Primipara | 5 | 62.5 |
Multipara | 3 | 37.5 |
Occupation status | ||
Employed | 2 | 25.0 |
Unemployed | 6 | 75.0 |
Future job return | ||
Yes | 4 | 50.0 |
No | 4 | 50.0 |
Educational level | ||
College | 2 | 25.0 |
University | 4 | 50.0 |
More than a graduate school | 2 | 25.0 |
Religion | ||
Atheism | 1 | 12.5 |
Christian | 2 | 25.0 |
Catholic | 3 | 37.5 |
Buddhism | 0 | 00.0 |
Others | 2 | 25.0 |
Pre-treatment | Post-treatment | Paired samples test | p-value | Nf | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mean (SD) | Mean (SD) | t | |||
Pregnancy stress | 2.61 (0.51) | 2.40 (0.44) | 1.72 | 0.13 | 7 |
Related fetus | 2.69 (0.97) | 2.65 (0.77) | 0.42 | 0.69 | |
Related pregnancy own | 2.70 (0.62) | 2.34 (0.37) | 2.34 | 0.05 | |
Related spouse | 2.29 (0.72) | 2.15 (0.91) | 0.65 | 0.54 | |
Depression | 0.74 (0.54) | 0.65 (0.26) | 0.53 | 0.61 | |
Depression affect | 0.80 (0.62) | 0.57 (0.32) | 0.91 | 0.39 | |
Positive affect | 0.84 (0.80) | 1.00 (0.58) | −0.71 | 0.50 | |
Interpersonal problems | 0.44 (0.48) | 0.29 (0.32) | 0.80 | 0.45 | |
Somatic symptoms | 1.19 (0.75) | 1.06 (0.50) | 0.80 | 0.45 | |
Maternal fetal attachment | 3.85 (0.52) | 3.77 (0.52) | 1.00 | 0.35 | |
Differentiation for self from fetus | 3.38 (0.58) | 3.44 (0.82) | −0.24 | 0.81 | |
Interaction with the fetus | 4.38 (0.52) | 4.56 (0.42) | −2.05 | 0.08 | |
Attributing characteristics and intention to the fetus | 3.88 (1.10) | 3.83 (0.93) | 0.31 | 0.76 | |
Giving of self | 3.73 (0.67) | 3.70 (0.79) | 0.16 | 0.88 | |
Role taking | 3.97 (0.45) | 3.59 (0.60) | 1.82 | 0.11 | |
Mindfulness | 3.72 (0.93) | 4.01 (0.92) | −3.84 | 0.006 | |
Concentration | 3.78 (1.03) | 3.95 (1.07) | −2.97 | 0.02 | |
Present-awareness | 4.00 (0.97) | 4.10 (1.11) | −0.80 | 0.45 | |
Non-judgemental acceptance | 3.83 (0.84) | 4.23 (1.00) | −1.69 | 0.13 | |
Decentered attention | 3.28 (1.17) | 3.78 (0.67) | −2.12 | 0.07 | |
Self-compassion | 3.75 (0.37) | 3.77 (0.34) | −0.24 | 0.82 | |
Self-kindness | 3.70 (0.53) | 3.30 (0.35) | 1.63 | 0.15 | |
Self-judgment | 3.88 (0.81) | 4.30 (0.60) | −2.11 | 0.07 | |
Common humanity | 3.69 (0.75) | 3.34 (0.80) | 2.58 | 0.04 | |
Isolation | 4.03 (0.59) | 4.28 (0.66) | −1.32 | 0.23 | |
Mindfulness | 3.97 (0.67) | 3.63 (0.58) | 3.27 | 0.01 | |
Over-identified | 3.22 (0.74) | 3.75 (0.78) | −2.77 | 0.03 |
Range | Specific examples |
---|---|
Relaxation and deep sleep | I did a lot of yoga and pilates, which was not effective, but continuously relaxing and emptying my mind (through meditation) helped ease my pains. I have been waking up a lot and not sleeping well, but meditating before I go to bed has made it much easier to sleep. (When I meditate) I feel comfortable and then find myself taking a nap. |
Emotional stability | I wanted to feel relaxed in mind, and I actually started to feel like I had a warm heart, which helped me rest. |
I knew I shouldn’t be so nervous but I did not know how not to be. I think I know the way now. | |
When I can’t sleep I think of my safe space and then fall asleep. Even if I think of the space now, it makes me feel comfortable and good. | |
It feels good to go to that space (safe space) when I am stressed. | |
I discovered how much I had wanted a comfortable heart. It has largely helped me empty my heart. | |
Self-kindness | I used to be strict on myself and hurt myself, but now I think I can be a little softer to myself. |
Range | Specific examples |
---|---|
Fetal movement awareness | I can feel fetal movement a lot when I am meditating. I like that I can feel my child. |
When I have indigestion I feel like the fetal movement feels stuffy, but when I am meditating, it feels soft. Fetal movement doesn’t happen when I want. But when I try to feel my child with a calm heart when I am meditating, I just softly and naturally accept that my child is kicking. | |
Fetal movement feels different when I am feeling it at sleep and when I am meditating. That I am feeling it at sleep feels uncomfortable and I can’t sleep, but when I am meditating I think of it that I am focusing on my child, so it does not feel uncomfortable. | |
I like the fetal movement because it feels like the child is happy. | |
Fetus attachment - Interest | I wasn’t able to do any special prenatal care because I had to take care of my first child. This was a chance to self-reflect and take full interest in the baby, and spend more time with it. |
I felt like I was going through difficulties and did not think about the baby because I can’t see (the baby), but nowadays I am focusing more on prenatal care. | |
I thought about prenatal care, but did not know what it was. After learning it I did it on my own from time to time, and my focus got better. | |
- Interaction | I talk more to the fetus now. |
I feel more connected, and I think I will be able to do it at home so I am emotionally stable as I raise my child, and I will be able to educate the child, too. | |
I say good things to the baby. I feel relaxed, and I think the baby feels relaxed too. | |
I never thought of wishing happiness for the baby. Doing it makes me feel closer to the baby. |
Range | Specific examples |
---|---|
Self-compassion meditation | I liked the safe space. Sometimes I find it hard to breathe, but this makes me feel warm and the breathing was nice. |
I liked the self-compassion meditation. I think it made me comfortable to think know me being happy would make the baby happy. | |
LKCM - fetus | It felt good because the LKCM (for my child) felt like praying. My heart was relaxed and I liked that I could feel a lot of fetal movement. |
I liked the LKCM for the baby. I felt comfortable and stable, and liked the feeling of being together with the baby. | |
Support tools for training at home - workbook | It is not enough to meditate just in class. The workbook and mediation file helped me practice at home. |
The recorded file was really good because the comfortable feeling continued after waking up in the morning, my whole day felt fresh, and I had no insomnia at night. But I did it like homework because I felt a little pressure. | |
The meditation file was good because I could listen to it when I remembered or when I was resting. The workbook was more of a burden when I was meditating. I had to think about what to write. | |
It helped me review the sessions, and helped me continue to think about and do the meditation. | |
At first the workbook was a burden, but I felt the baby move more because it was happy when I did meditation. So I ended up opening the book a few times at home. | |
Other opinions | At first, I had to think about whether this way (of copying) was right. |
I thought we would listen to music and do it, but there was no music (unlike my expectations) and that was hard. | |
(Extended LKCM)The things to say while lying down were so long so I was busy trying to repeat. There were times when I could not focus on the meditation because of this. | |
I think that more people would participate and enjoy the experience if there was meditation for the different weeks of pregnancy. | |
I wish program had been more fun. |
loving-kindness and compassion. Each session ends with three common activities: body scan meditation (5 mins), bending meditation (5 mins), wrap up (5 mins).