Main Article Content
Abstract
Pregnancy can present significant risks, particularly during the childbirth process, which often induces fear and anxiety in pregnant women. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of group counseling using the Positive Self-Talk technique in reducing anxiety among pregnant women. A true experimental pretest-posttest control group design was employed, with 20 participants divided into two groups: 10 pregnant women in the experimental group and 10 in the control group. Anxiety data were collected using the Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale (PASS), adapted to measure anxiety in pregnant women. Pre-test and post-test results were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test via SPSS 20. The findings revealed a significant reduction in anxiety within the experimental group (Asymp. Sig. = 0.037), with the average anxiety score decreasing from 84.5 at pre-test to 50.8 at post-test, while the control group exhibited an increase in the average anxiety score from 85.7 to 91.4 (Asymp. Sig. = 0.0628). These results suggest that group counseling with the Positive Self-Talk technique is effective in reducing anxiety among pregnant women. This study provides valuable insights into psychological interventions aimed at alleviating anxiety in pregnant women, particularly in preparation for childbirth.
Keywords
Article Details

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
References
- Amalia, R., Indreswari, H., Hambali, I. M., & Setiyowati, A. J. (2025). Improving perinatal mental health through the Baayun Maulid ceremony of the Banjarnesse tradition. Journal of Public Health, 47(3), e437–e438. https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdae197
- Arch, J. J. (2014). Cognitive behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy for anxiety: Treatment preferences and credibility among pregnant and non-pregnant women. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 52, 53–60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2013.11.003
- Arsini, Y., Wirtati, I., & Damanik, E. S. D. (2023). The Effectiveness of Cognitive Restructuring Counselling Containing Wahdatul Ulum Values to Increase Student Perseverance. ENLIGHTEN (Jurnal Bimbingan Dan Konseling Islam), 6(2), 64–75. https://doi.org/10.32505/enlighten.v6i2.7225
- Atif, N., Nazir, H., Zafar, S., Chaudhri, R., Atiq, M., Mullany, L. C., Rowther, A. A., Malik, A., Surkan, P. J., & Rahman, A. (2020). Development of a Psychological Intervention to Address Anxiety During Pregnancy in a Low-Income Country. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00927
- Beck, A. T., & Weishaar, M. (1989). Cognitive Therapy. In Comprehensive Handbook of Cognitive Therapy (pp. 21–36). Springer US. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9779-4_2
- Bhola, P., Duggal, C., & Isaac, R. (2025). Connecting with Clients and Building a Therapeutic Alliance. In Reflective Practice in Psychotherapy and Counselling (pp. 97–124). Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-96-9732-8_5
- Biondi, M. (2025). The Role of Therapeutic Thoughts. In Brief Existential Psychotherapy for Life Stress (pp. 157–222). Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-87144-3_6
- Casler, M. D. (2015). Fundamentals of Experimental Design: Guidelines for Designing Successful Experiments. Agronomy Journal, 107(2), 692–705. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2013.0114
- Challacombe, F. L., Potts, L., Carter, B., Lawrence, V., Husbands, A., & Howard, L. M. (2021). Optimising psychological treatment for Anxiety DisordErs in Pregnancy (ADEPT): study protocol for a feasibility trial of time-intensive CBT versus weekly CBT. Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 7(1), 101. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-021-00838-8
- Diefenbeck, C. A., Klemm, P. R., & Hayes, E. R. (2014). Emergence of Yalom’s Therapeutic Factors in a Peer-Led, Asynchronous, Online Support Group for Family Caregivers. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 35(1), 21–32. https://doi.org/10.3109/01612840.2013.836260
- Edmunds, J. M., Brodman, D. M., Ringle, V. A., Read, K. L., Kendall, P. C., & Beidas, R. S. (2017). Examining adherence to components of cognitive-behavioral therapy for youth anxiety after training and consultation. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 48(1), 54–61. https://doi.org/10.1037/pro0000100
- Evans, K., Spiby, H., & Morrell, C. J. (2020). Developing a complex intervention to support pregnant women with mild to moderate anxiety: application of the Medical Research Council framework. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 20(1), 777. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-03469-8
- Fau, S., Ramli, M., Hidayah, N., Chusniyah, T., & Akkakanjanasupar, P. (2026). Reconceptualizing cultural adaptation in cognitive behavioral therapy through a cross-paradigmatic synthesis of empirical strategies, therapeutic outcomes, and transformative frameworks. Journal of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy, 36(1), 100557. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbct.2025.100557
- George, A., Luz, R. F., De Tychey, C., Thilly, N., & Spitz, E. (2013). Anxiety symptoms and coping strategies in the perinatal period. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 13(1), 233. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2393-13-233
- Hadfield, K., Akyirem, S., Sartori, L., Abdul-Latif, A.-M., Akaateba, D., Bayrampour, H., Daly, A., Hadfield, K., & Abiiro, G. A. (2022). Measurement of pregnancy-related anxiety worldwide: a systematic review. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 22(1), 331. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-022-04661-8
- Hofmann, S. G., Asmundson, G. J. G., & Beck, A. T. (2013). The Science of Cognitive Therapy. Behavior Therapy, 44(2), 199–212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2009.01.007
- Latinjak, A. T., Morin, A., Brinthaupt, T. M., Hardy, J., Hatzigeorgiadis, A., Kendall, P. C., Neck, C., Oliver, E. J., Puchalska-Wasyl, M. M., Tovares, A. V., & Winsler, A. (2023). Self-Talk: An Interdisciplinary Review and Transdisciplinary Model. Review of General Psychology, 27(4), 355–386. https://doi.org/10.1177/10892680231170263
- Li, X., Laplante, D. P., Paquin, V., Lafortune, S., Elgbeili, G., & King, S. (2022). Effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy for perinatal maternal depression, anxiety and stress: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Clinical Psychology Review, 92, 102129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2022.102129
- Loughnan, S. A., Wallace, M., Joubert, A. E., Haskelberg, H., Andrews, G., & Newby, J. M. (2018). A systematic review of psychological treatments for clinical anxiety during the perinatal period. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 21(5), 481–490. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-018-0812-7
- O’Mahen, H., Fedock, G., Henshaw, E., Himle, J. A., Forman, J., & Flynn, H. A. (2012). Modifying CBT for Perinatal Depression: What Do Women Want? Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 19(2), 359–371. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpra.2011.05.005
- Pascal, R., Casas, I., Genero, M., Nakaki, A., Youssef, L., Larroya, M., Benitez, L., Gomez, Y., Martinez-Aran, A., Morilla, I., Oller-Guzmán, T. M., Martín-Asuero, A., Vieta, E., Crispi, F., Gratacos, E., Gomez-Roig, M. D., & Crovetto, F. (2023). Maternal Stress, Anxiety, Well-Being, and Sleep Quality in Pregnant Women throughout Gestation. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 12(23), 7333. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12237333
- Pasha, H., Faramarzi, M., Chehrazi, M., Bakouei, F., Gholinia, H., Abdollahi, S., & Shafierizi, S. (2022). Health-promotion and health-harming behaviours in pregnant women: role of coping strategies, anxiety, and depression. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 42(3), 410–415. https://doi.org/10.1080/01443615.2021.1910634
- Pohan, R. A., Astuti, R. D., Pohan, P. B. A., Adiningtiyas, S. W., Prihatiningsih, R., & Fitria, S. (2024). Enhancing perinatal mental health: lessons from the Mitoni tradition in Javanese culture. Journal of Public Health. https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdae152
- Pohan, R. A., Ramli, M., Atmoko, A., Akbar, S., & Hanurawan, F. (2025). Unveiling gratitude in Javanese Muslim hajatan traditions: Cultural wisdom and social cohesion in the midst of modernization. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 11, 101321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.101321
- Ramadhani, E., Setiyosari, P., Indreswari, H., Setiyowati, A. J., & Putri, R. D. (2026). Academic procrastination: A systematic review of causal factors and interventions. Journal of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy, 36(1), 100552. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbct.2025.100552
- Silaban, I., & Sibarani, R. (2021). The tradition of Mambosuri Toba Batak traditional ceremony for a pregnant woman with seven months gestational age for women’s physical and mental health. Gaceta Sanitaria, 35, S558–S560. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaceta.2021.07.033
- Somerville, S., Byrne, S. L., Dedman, K., Hagan, R., Coo, S., Oxnam, E., Doherty, D., Cunningham, N., & Page, A. C. (2015). Detecting the severity of perinatal anxiety with the Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale (PASS). Journal of Affective Disorders, 186, 18–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2015.07.012
- Staneva, A. A., Bogossian, F., & Wittkowski, A. (2015). The experience of psychological distress, depression, and anxiety during pregnancy: A meta-synthesis of qualitative research. Midwifery, 31(6), 563–573. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2015.03.015
- Steinert, C., Hofmann, M., Kruse, J., & Leichsenring, F. (2014). Relapse rates after psychotherapy for depression – stable long-term effects? A meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 168, 107–118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2014.06.043
- Stewart, L. A., Chang, C. Y., & Rice, R. (2013). Emergent Theory and Model of Practice in Animal-Assisted Therapy in Counseling. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 8(4), 329–348. https://doi.org/10.1080/15401383.2013.844657
- Viswasam, K., Berle, D., Milicevic, D., & Starcevic, V. (2021). Prevalence and onset of anxiety and related disorders throughout pregnancy: A prospective study in an Australian sample. Psychiatry Research, 297, 113721. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113721
- Wampold, B. E. (2021). Healing in a Social Context: The Importance of Clinician and Patient Relationship. Frontiers in Pain Research, 2. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpain.2021.684768
- Zuliani, H., Kee, P., & Sapeer, N. (2025). The impact of rational emotive behavior therapy approach with Islamic values on children with sexual abuse trauma. ENLIGHTEN (Jurnal Bimbingan Dan Konseling Islam), 7(2), 109–119. https://doi.org/10.32505/enlighten.v7i2.8695