Implementation of Benson Relaxation Therapy for Stress Reduction in Pregnant Women with Preeclampsia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48079/jika.v8i2.137Keywords:
preeclampsia, stress, pregnancy, relaxation therapy, BensonAbstract
Implementation of Benson Relaxation Therapy for Stress Reduction in Pregnant Women with Preeclampsia. Background: Preeclampsia is a high-risk pregnancy complication that can trigger stress in pregnant women. Unmanaged stress may worsen pregnancy outcomes and endanger both mother and fetus. Non-pharmacological interventions such as Benson relaxation therapy can help reduce stress levels in pregnant women with preeclampsia. Purpose: To determine the effect of Benson relaxation therapy in reducing stress levels in pregnant women with preeclampsia. Method: This case study used a one-subject pre-post intervention design. The subject was a 33-year-old pregnant woman with preeclampsia. Benson relaxation therapy was administered for three consecutive days. Stress levels were measured using the DASS-21 questionnaire before and after each intervention. Results: On day one, the subject’s stress level was categorized as moderate, then decreased to normal on day two and remained stable on day three. Conclusion: Benson relaxation therapy effectively reduces stress levels in pregnant women with preeclampsia within a short period, making it a potential non-pharmacological approach to support maternal mental health.
References
Abd ElAziz ElShora, S., Elsayed, H., El-Feshawy, N., & Abd Elaziz Hassen, H. (2024). The Effect of Benson’s Relaxation Therapy on Pre-Cesarean Section Fear and Anxiety among Nulliparous Women. Assiut Scientific Nursing Journal, 12(41), 75–83. https://doi.org/10.21608/asnj.2024.259888.1746
Afrose, D., Johansen, M. D., Nikolic, V., Karadzov Orlic, N., Mikovic, Z., Stefanovic, M., Cakic, Z., Hansbro, P. M., & McClements, L. (2025). Evaluating oxidative stress targeting treatments in in vitro models of placental stress relevant to preeclampsia. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2025.1539496
Alipova, G., Ablakimova, N., Tussupkaliyeva, K., Bermagambetova, S., Kosmuratova, S., Karimsakova, B., Gaiday, A., Gaiday, A., Dinets, A., & Tussupkaliyev, A. (2025). Prevention of Pre-Eclampsia: Modern Strategies and the Role of Early Screening. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(9), 2970. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14092970
Almeida, P., Cuénoud, A., Hoang, H., Othenin-Girard, A., Salhi, N., Köthe, A., Christen, U., & Schoettker, P. (2025). Accuracy of the smartphone blood pressure measurement solution OptiBP to track blood pressure changes in pregnant women. Journal of Hypertension, 43(4), 665–672. https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0000000000003956
Bohsas, H., Alibrahim, H., Swed, S., Abouainain, Y., Aljabali, A., Masoud, S., Saleh, H. H., Aldawoud, T., Taleb, F., Alsheikh, R. A., Fawaz, H., Mourad, D., Mohamed, W. F., Aboushady, R., & Hafez, W. (2024). Assessing pre-eclampsia awareness among pregnant women in Syria: a cross-sectional study on knowledge and perceptions. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 24(1), 185. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-06368-4
Chai, L., Li, S., Yin, B., Zhu, X., Zhu, B., & Wu, K. (2025). Prevalence, risk factors, and adverse perinatal outcomes in Chinese women with preeclampsia: a large retrospective cohort study. Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, 44(1), 32. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-025-00778-6
Danielli, M., Thomas, R. C., Gillies, C. L., Hu, J., Khunti, K., & Tan, B. K. (2022). Blood biomarkers to predict the onset of pre-eclampsia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Heliyon, 8(11), e11226. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11226
Fawzia, Mohamed, Abd Elgwad Hassan, & Magda Youssef Helmy Mourad. (2021). Effect of Benson’s Relaxation Therapy on Stress and Physiological Parameters among Women with Preeclampsia. 63–74.
Garovic, V. D., Dechend, R., Easterling, T., Karumanchi, S. A., McMurtry Baird, S., Magee, L. A., Rana, S., Vermunt, J. V., & August, P. (2022). Hypertension in Pregnancy: Diagnosis, Blood Pressure Goals, and Pharmacotherapy: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Hypertension, 79(2). https://doi.org/10.1161/HYP.0000000000000208
Hu, X., Chen, D., Wang, H., Lv, Y., Wang, Y., Gao, X., Li, S., & He, R. (2024). The optimal dosage of aspirin for preventing preeclampsia in high?risk pregnant women: A network meta?analysis of 23 randomized controlled trials. The Journal of Clinical Hypertension, 26(5), 455–464. https://doi.org/10.1111/jch.14821
Ishikuro, M., Obara, T., Hasegawa, M., Murakami, K., Ueno, F., Noda, A., Onuma, T., Matsuzaki, F., Iwama, N., Kikuya, M., Sugawara, J., Azegami, T., Nakayama, T., Mito, A., Arata, N., Metoki, H., Kanda, T., & Kuriyama, S. (2025). Subsequent high blood pressure and hypertension by hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study. Hypertension Research, 48(1), 68–76. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41440-024-01936-9
Jin, M., Liu, X., Liu, X., Wu, Y., Zhang, Y., Zhang, L., Li, Z., Ye, R., & Li, N. (2024). Association of pre-/early pregnancy high blood pressure and pregnancy outcomes: a systemic review and meta-analysis. The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine, 37(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/14767058.2023.2296366
Lakshmi, M., & Naganandini, R. (2024). The Efficacy of Benson Relaxation for Managing Psychological Distress in Primipostpartum Women: A Systematic Review. Journal of Pharmacy and Bioallied Sciences, 16(Suppl 5), S4320–S4323. https://doi.org/10.4103/jpbs.jpbs_1054_24
Lynch, S., Killeen, S. L., O’Brien, E., Mullane, K., Hokey, E., Mealy, G., & McAuliffe, F. M. (2024). Diet quality and blood pressure among pregnant women with overweight or obesity: A secondary analysis of two randomized controlled trials. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 103(6), 1073–1082. https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.14821
Mao, R., Li, L., & Li, P. (2024). Unveiling an oxidative stress-linked diagnostic signature and molecular subtypes in preeclampsia: novel insights into pathogenesis. Free Radical Research, 58(5), 354–365. https://doi.org/10.1080/10715762.2024.2360015
Montgomery, K. S., Hensley, C., Winseman, A., Marshall, C., & Robles, A. (2024). A Systematic Review of Complications Following Pre-eclampsia. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 28(11), 1876–1885. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-024-03999-z
Movaghar, R., Abbasalizadeh, S., Vazifekhah, S., Farshbaf-Khalili, A., & Shahnazi, M. (2024). The effects of synbiotic supplementation on blood pressure and other maternal outcomes in pregnant mothers with mild preeclampsia: a triple-blinded randomized controlled trial. BMC Women’s Health, 24(1), 80. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-024-02922-6
Ortega, M. A., Garcia-Puente, L. M., Fraile-Martinez, O., Pekarek, T., García-Montero, C., Bujan, J., Pekarek, L., Barrena-Blázquez, S., Gragera, R., Rodríguez-Rojo, I. C., Rodríguez-Benitez, P., López-González, L., Díaz-Pedrero, R., Álvarez-Mon, M., García-Honduvilla, N., De León-Luis, J. A., Bravo, C., & Saez, M. A. (2024). Oxidative Stress, Lipid Peroxidation and Ferroptosis Are Major Pathophysiological Signatures in the Placental Tissue of Women with Late-Onset Preeclampsia. Antioxidants, 13(5), 591. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13050591
Pongpanit, K., Dayan, N., Janaudis-Ferreira, T., Roig, M., Spahija, J., & Bertagnolli, M. (2024). Exercise effects on maternal vascular health and blood pressure during pregnancy and postpartum: a systematic review and meta-analysis. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 31(13), 1606–1620. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurjpc/zwae165
Qi, J., Wu, B., Chen, X., Wei, W., & Yao, X. (2022). Diagnostic biomolecules and combination therapy for pre-eclampsia. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, 20(1), 136. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-022-01003-3
Qin, X., Ai, F., Zhou, Q., Zhang, Y., & Yan, X. (2025). Pre-eclampsia, gestational hypertension, and lipid levels during pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-025-08052-0
Shahi, S., Streeter, T. E., Wall, H. K., Zhou, W., Kuklina, E. V, & Jackson, S. L. (2024). Blood Pressure Cuff Sizes for Pregnant Women in the United States: Findings From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. American Journal of Hypertension, 38(1), 12–17. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajh/hpae128
Susanti, H. D., Sonko, I., & Chung, M.-H. (2022). Translation and validation of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales for menopausal women in Indonesia. Climacteric, 25(5), 483–489. https://doi.org/10.1080/13697137.2022.2052839
Wilson, L. M., Herzig, S. J., Steinman, M. A., Schonberg, M. A., Cluett, J. L., Marcantonio, E. R., & Anderson, T. S. (2024). Management of Inpatient Elevated Blood Pressures. Annals of Internal Medicine, 177(4), 497–506. https://doi.org/10.7326/M23-3251
Wilson, M. G., Bone, J. N., Mistry, H. D., Slade, L. J., Singer, J., von Dadelszen, P., & Magee, L. A. (2024). Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Variability and the Impact on Pregnancy Outcomes: A Systematic Review. Journal of the American Heart Association, 13(5). https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.123.032636





