College
College of Health Professions
Date of Last Revision
2026-04-28 12:32:28
Major
Nursing
Honors Course
NURS 480 - Senior Honors Project
Number of Credits
3
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Date of Expected Graduation
Spring 2026
Abstract
Pregnant individuals often experience significant anxiety, which can negatively affect both pregnancy and fetal outcomes. This systematic review evaluates the effectiveness of pharmacologic versus non-pharmacologic anxiety-relieving interventions, primarily focusing on the labor period. The PICOT question is: In perinatal patients, do non-pharmacologic anxiety-relieving measures, compared to pharmacologic anxiety-relieving measures, have a greater impact on ease of delivery and overall mental health during pregnancy and the perinatal period? PRISMA (2020) guidelines were used with inclusion criteria of human subjects, English language, and published within the last six years. Databases included PubMed, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library. Twenty-three studies were analyzed to examine intervention types, outcomes, and impacts on perinatal mental health. Studies were selected based on relevance, quality, and methodology and were critically appraised for strength of evidence, sample size, and potential bias. Data were compared to identify themes related to delivery outcomes and perinatal mental health. Findings supported nonpharmacologic approaches as the first-line approach for anxiety management during pregnancy and labor.
Research Sponsor
Debra Horning MSN
First Reader
Rebecca Corrick RN
Second Reader
Dr. Lori Kidd PhD RN
Honors Faculty Advisor
Dr. Lori Kidd PhD RN
Proprietary and/or Confidential Information
No
Community Engaged Scholarship
No
Recommended Citation
Arnold, Kasey E. and Maki, Alyssa M., "Magnifying mental health in the perinatal population: A systematic review" (2026). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 2116.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/2116
Included in
Maternal and Child Health Commons, Maternal, Child Health and Neonatal Nursing Commons, Other Nursing Commons, Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons, Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Commons
Comments
This Honors Research Project is a systematic review focused on mental health in perinatal patients, with relevance to nursing practice, psychiatric and mental health care, and public health. The work was completed in fulfillment of the Honors Research Project requirement for the University of Akron Honors College.