Improving Postpartum Mental Health and Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors in Women of Color Who Are Pregnant and Experiencing Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Through Group Prenatal Care: A Randomized Controlled Trial

A two-group randomized controlled trial enrolled 299 pregnant Black and Hispanic women screening high for depression, anxiety, or stress and compared midwife-administered group prenatal care (the COPE-P cognitive-behavioral skills-building program) with a health-promotion attention control. Both groups showed rapid, significant reductions in depression, anxiety, and stress over six months postpartum, but only COPE-P participants demonstrated significant improvements in healthy lifestyle beliefs and behaviors. Findings support integrating CBSB interventions into midwifery group prenatal care for women of color.