Effect of Structured Counselling on Anxiety and Coping Mechanisms in Pregnancy

Abstract

Pregnancy is a critical life phase often accompanied by psychological challenges such as anxiety and difficulty in coping with physical and emotional changes. The present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of structured counselling in reducing anxiety and enhancing coping mechanisms among pregnant women. A quasi-experimental pre-test–post-test control group design was adopted. The study was conducted at Sadar Hospital in Saran District of Bihar, with a sample of 60 pregnant women divided equally into experimental and control groups. Standardized tools were used to measure anxiety and coping strategies. The experimental group received structured counselling sessions for four weeks, while the control group received routine antenatal care. The results indicated a significant reduction in anxiety levels and improvement in coping mechanisms among the experimental group compared to the control group. The findings highlight the importance of counselling interventions in promoting maternal mental health during pregnancy.