Table 1. Description and summary of the results of the studies included in the systematic review and meta-analysis.

Authors, year	Study size	Country	Design	Relaxation, type and duration applied	Time outcome measured	Outcome		Results
								Relaxation		Control
1. Bastani F, et al. 2005	EG:55 CG:55	Iran	RCT	Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) and breathing exercise for 7 weeks between gestational age of 14 and 28 weeks	Immeditely before and after the 7th week of intervention. Made goup comparison	Stress—percieved stress scale (PSS)	PSS points	24.4 ± 5.8		37.5 ± 5.7*
						State anxiety—state anxiety trait inventory (S-STAI)	S-STAI points	22.7 ± 7.4		38.5 ± 5.7*
						Trait anxiety: (T-STAI)	T-STAI, points	22.7± 7.4		38.5 ±5.7*
2. Bastani F, et al. 2006	EG:55 CG:55	Iran	RCT	Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) and breathing exercise for 7 weeks between gestational age of 14 and 28 weeks	Immeditely before and after intervention and at birth done for goup comparisons	Birth weight (BW)	grams	3168 ± 42		2883 ± 6*
						Low BW	n (%)	3 (5.8)		14 (26.9)*
						Gestational age	week	38 ± 5.9		38 ± 4.40 ‡
						Preterm birth	n (%)	1 (1.9)		5 (9.8) ‡
						Mode of delivery; n (%)	Abnormal	11 (21.2)		25 (48.1)*
							SVD	41 (78.8)		27 (39.7)*
							C/S	8 (15.4)		21 (40.40)*
							Instrumental	3 (5.8)		4 (7.70)*
3. Chuntharapat S, et al. 2008	EG:33 CG:33	Thailand.	RCT	Yoga 1 hour weekly for 6 Weeks at 26–28th, 30th, 32nd, 34th, 36th, and 37th week of gestation	After intervention (at birth) for group comparison	Birth weight	grams	3076.8±311.2		3125.5±287.4‡
						Apgar score, 1st minute	≤7; n (%)	2 (6.1)		5 (15.2) ‡
							8–10; n (%)	31 (93.9)		28 (84.8) ‡
						Apgar score, 5th minutes	≤7; n (%)	0		0 ‡
							8–10; n (%)	33 (100)		33 (100) ‡
						Length of labour, Minute	First stage	520 ± 19		660 ± 27*
							Second stage	27 ± 15		31 ± 14‡
							Total labour	559 ± 20		684 ± 28*
4. Chang MY, et al. 2008	EG: 116 CG: 120	Taiwan	RCT	Music Therapy provided daily for 2 weeks	Pre/post difference for group comparison	Stress: PSS, points	Pretest	17·4 ±4·6		16·7 ±4·3
							Posttest	15.3 ± 5.2		15.8 ± 6.0
							Pre-post diff.	-2.1		-0.9*
						Anxiety: S-STAI, points	Pretest	37·9 ±9·8		37·1±10·0
							Posttest	35.8 ± 10.9		37.8 ± 12.1
							Pre-post diff	-2.1		0.7*
						Depression -Edinburg postnatal depression scale (EPDS), points	Pretest	12·1±3·5		12·2±3·9
							Posttest	10.3 ± 4.1		12.1 ± 4.6
							Pre-post diff.	1.8		0.1*
5. Satyapriya M, et al. 2009	EG:45 CG:45	India	RCT	Yoga daily in the 2nd and 3rd trimester	Pre/post difference for groups comparison	Stress: PSS points, group difference	20th week of pregnancy	15.9 ± 5.0		15.4±5.7‡
							36th week of pregnancy	10.9 ± 4.9		17.3±5.3*
							Pre-post diff	5.0		-1.9*
6. Yang M, et al. 2009	EG:60 CG:60	China	RCT	Music therapy for 30 minutes on 3 consecutive days at admission for expected preterm birth	Pre/post difference for group comparison	Anxiety: STAI points, mean for pre/post and mean and SD for the pre/post difference reported	Pretest	40.7		41.9‡
							Posttest	26.6		41.8*
							Pre-post diff.	-14.1±5.8		-0.1±2.8*
7. Urech C, et al. 2010	EG1: 13 EG2: 13 CG:13	Switzerland	RCT	Progressive Muscle relaxation and Guided imaginary experiment applied for 10 minutes only	Pre/post	State anxiety: S-STAI	Groups did not differ significantly in change of state anxiety from pre to post intervention. Anxiety decreased equally in all three groups from pre- to post-relaxation,F(1,35) = 5.14, p = .030*, d = .38
8. Liu YH, et al. 2010	EG:30 CG:30	Taiwan	RCT	Music therapy for 1 hour during labour	Posttest for group comparison	Labour anxiety using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS-A), points	Latent phase	6.4 ± 3.0		5.2 ± 2.2‡
							Active phase	8.2 ± 2.3		7.7 ± 2.1‡
							Latent and active phase diff.	-1.8		2.5*
9. Simavli S, et al. 2014	EG:67 CG:65	Turkey	RCT	Music therapy during labour	Pre/post for group comparison	Labour anxiety: VAS-A, points	Pretest	2.8±0.4		2.7±0.4‡
							Latent phase	4.3 ± 0.8		5.1 ± 0.9*
							Active phase	8.47 ± 0.7		9.4 ± 0.7*
							Second phase	9.1 ± 0.6		9.8 ± 0.4*
							2 h after delivery	1.7± 0.3		4.2 ± 0.8*
						Birth weight	G	3375 ± 245		3420 ± 239‡
						Apgar 9/10	n (%)	67 (100%)		61 (93.8%) +
						Duration of labour, Minutes	Latent phase	162 ± 15		164 ± 15‡
							Active phase	189 ± 28		198 ± 15*
							Second phase	83 ± 13		89 ± 18*
							Third stage	17 ± 50		17 ± 5‡
						Mode of delivery; n (%) χ2 test, P>0.05	Caesarian section	5 (6.9)		9 (12.2) ‡
							Instrumental	2(2.7)		5 (6.8) ‡
							Spontaneous vaginal delivery	65 (90.2)		60 (81.0) ‡
							Episiotomy	51 (76.1)		52 (80.0) ‡
						Latent phase labour	SBP, mm Hg	106.0±13.1		110.2±9.3*
							DBP, mmHg	66.3±4.9		68.3±3.8*
							Hear rate	76.0±4.8		78.7±5.9*
						Active phase labour	SBP, mm Hg	99.7±12.3		108.3±10.6*
							DBP, mmHg	62.7±5.1		68.3±3.8*
							Hear rate	74.4±4.9		78.7±5.8*
						Second stage labour	SBP, mm Hg	91.6±16.1		101.1±9.1*
							DBP, mmHg	60.6±2.4		59.9±11.5‡
							Hear rate	73.9±3.8		76.5±3.7*
						2 h postpartum period	SBP, mm Hg	94.2±5.0		99.9±15.5*
							DBP, mmHg	59.4±2.4		63.4±10.7*
							Hear rate	72.1±3.9		75.4±10.4*
10. Simavli S, et al. 2014	EG:71 CG:70	Turkey	RCT	Music therapy during labour	Posttest group comparison	Antenatal depression: EPDS	Mean (SD) score	8.0 (2.8)		8.5 (2.6) ‡
							EPDS≥10, n (%)	18 (25.4)		21 (30.0) ‡
							EPDS≥13, n (%)	8 (11.3)		9 (12.9) ‡
						Postnatal depression day 1	Mean (SD) score	7.3±2.4		8.3±2.8*
							EPDS≥10, n (%)	11 (15.5)		22 (31.4)*
							EPDS≥13, n (%)	4 (5.6)		12 (17.1)*
						Postnatal depression: EPDS, day 8	EPDS, points	7.1±2.1		8.6±2.9*
							EPDS≥10, n (%)	9 (12.7)		25 (35.7)*
							EPDS≥13, n (%)	4 (5.6)		13 (18.6)*
						Postnatal Anxiety: VAS-A	VAS-A (1 h)	3.3±0.5		4.9±0.9*
							VAS-A (4 h)	2.7±0.4		4.2±0.8*
							VAS-A (8 h)	2.3±0.3		3.3±0.5*
							VAS-A (16 h)	1.7±0.3		2.8±0.4*
							VAS-A (24 h)	0.9±0.6		2.3±0.3*
11. Tragea C, et al. 2014	EG:31 CG:29	Greece	RCT	Breathing and progressive muscle relaxation 1–2 times a day for 6 weeks	Pre/post difference for group comparison	Stress: PSS, points	Pre-post diff.	−3.7±1.8		−0.5±1.8*
						Anxiety: S-STAI	Pre-post diff.	-3.5±2.8		-2.0±2.9 ‡
						Anxiety: T-STAI	Pre-post diff.	-3.8 (1.4)		-1.6 (2.5) ‡
12. Guardino CM, et al. 2014	EG:24 CG:23	USA	RCT	Mindfulness training	Pre/post (immediate posttest and 6 weeks after post test	PSS, points: Significant main effect of time: p < 0.05*	Pretest	41.8±6.0		39.9±8.6‡
							Posttest immediate	37.3±5.4		35.8±8.0‡
							Posttest 6 weeks	36.2±5.9		37.4±7.3‡
						Anxiety: S-STAI: Significant main effect of time: p = 0.001*	Pretest	45.7±7.6		44.4±11.0‡
							Posttest immediate	39.7±6.3		37.4±11.5‡
							Posttest 6 weeks	38.1±8.8		36.2±10.8‡
13. Newham J, et al. 2014	EG:29 CG:22	UK	RCT	Yoga training and practice applied for 8 weeks	Pre/post difference for group comparison	Anxiety: S-STAI, Points, medians (IQR)	Baseline	28(24–42)		32 (24–37)
							End line	27(22–36)		34 (25–38) ‡
						Anxiety: T-STAI, Points, medians (IQR)	Baseline:	34 (29–40)		35 (33–39)
							End line:	34 (29–39		34 (30–41) ‡
						Depression: EPDS, Points, medians (IQR)	Baseline:	5 (2–10)		5 (4–8)
							End line:	4 (2–7)		6 (3–10)*
						Anxiety: WDEQ	Baseline:	74 (62–87		77 (60–85)
							End line:	61 (42–77)		69 (58–78)*
14. Davis K, et al. 2015	EG:23 CG:23	USA	RCT	Yoga for 8 weeks	Pre/post, and midline assessment	Depression: EPDS, points	Baseline	10.1 ± 4.5		10.6±5.1
							Midline	8.5 ± 4.9		8.8 ±6.0
							End line	6.4 ± 4.0		7.3 ± 5.1
							Baseline-end line mean diff.	3.7		3.3‡
						Anxiety: S-STAI), points	Baseline	36.9 ±12.2		41.7±10.8
							Midline	41.8±15.2		39.0±11.4
							End line	34.8±10.7		38.8 ±13.7
							Baseline-end line mean diff.	2.1		2.9‡
						Anxiety: T-STAI, points	Baseline	45.0 ±12.1		45.4 ±10.2
							Midline	43.1 ±11.4		42.4±13.5
							End line	38.4 ±9.9		40.4±10.9
							Baseline-end line mean diff.	6.6		5‡
15. Chang HC, et al. 2015	EG: 145 CG: 151	Taiwan	RCT	Music therapy during 2nd and / or 3rd trimester	Pre/post for pre-post mean difference for group comparison	Stress: PSS, points	Pretest	16.5±4.9		16.4±4.8
							Posttest	16.0 ±5.6		16.4 ±5.3
							Pre-post diff.	0.5		0‡
						STRESS: Pregnancy Stress Rating Scale (PSRS)	Pretest	53.7±24.1		49.9±22.3
							Posttest	54.0±23.6		54.9±22.7
							Pre-post diff.	0.3		4.8*
16. Liu YH, et al. 2016	EG:61 CG:60	Taiwan	RCT	Music therapy for 2 weeks	Pre/post	Stress: PSS, points	Pretest:	17.1 ± 5.4		16.3 ± 5.2
							Posttest:	17.9 ± 4.1		19.3 ± 2.5
							Pre-pots mean diff. for group comparison	-0.8		-3.0*
						Anxiety: S-STAI, points	Pretest	39.7 ± 10.7		40.2 ± 10.2
							Posttest	37.3±10.0		42.1±11.6
							Pre-pots mean diff. group comparison	2.4		-1.9*
17. Muthukrishnan S, et al. 2016	EG:37 CG:37	India	RCT	Mindfulness Meditation for 4 weeks from 13–16 gestational week	5 weeks after enrollment (at 17–18 weeks of gestation)	Stress: PSS, points	Posttest between group comparison	19.1±1.4		32.1±2.40*
						BP: mmHg	SBP	109.22±3.8		124.68±5.6*
							DBP	69.11±2.23		69.11±2.2‡
						Hear rate variability	Beats/min	26.59±2.1		20.65±1.5*
						Respiratory rate	Breath/minute	18.08 ±1.8		19.27±2.1*
						Cold Pressor systolic blood pressure response.		9.68±1.8		13.38±2.23*
						Cold Pressor diastolic blood pressure response.		4.19±0.98		7.54±1.4*
						Mental arithmetic systolic blood pressure response.		8.97±2.21		13.49±3.1*
						Mental arithmetic diastolic blood pressure response.		5.22±1.53		4.38±1.32 +
18. Beevi Z, et al. 2016	EG:28 CG:28	Malaysia	Quasi-experimental	Hypnosis practiced since 16 week of gestation	Pre/post:	Stress: DASS-21, points at 36 weeks of gestation	Posttest mean group difference (raw data not given)	5.8 ±5.4		10.7 ±8.9*
								F (1,44) = 4.70, p = 0.03, partial ŋ2 = .101*
						Anxiety: DASS-21, points at 36 weeks of gestation	Posttest mean group difference (raw data not given)	F(1,44) = 10.76,p = 0.01, partial ŋ2 = 0.20*
						Depression: DASS-21, points at 36 weeks of gestation	Posttest mean group difference	F(1,16) = 0.958,p = 0.342, partial ŋ2 = .06. ‡
19. Beevi Z, et al. 2017	EG: 23 CG: 22	Malaysia	Quasi-experimental	Hypnosis provided at 16, 20, 28, and 36 weeks of their pregnancy and advised to practice every day until labour	Posttest / done at birth	Birth weight, g	3103.5±301.2	3070.9±367.24 ‡
						SVD, n (%)	19 (42.2)	14 (31.1) ‡
						C/S, n (%)	4 (8.9)	8 (17.8) ‡
						Apgar score at 1 minute, %	5	0		4.3‡
							6	0		4.3‡
							8	4.3		18.2‡
							9	95.7		72.7 *
						Apgar score at 5 minute	9	0		4.5‡
							10	100		95.5‡
20. Gonzalezet al. 2017	EG: 204 CG: 205	Spain	RCT	Music therapy for 40 minutes daily for 2 weeks	Posttest for group comparison	Birth weight	Kg	3.4±0.4		3.4±0.5 ‡
						Newborn length	Cm	50.3±1.86		50.6±2.0 ‡
						head circumference	Cm	34.5±1.3		34.6±1.4 ‡
						Apgar score	1 minute,	9.1±0.8)		9.0±0.9 ‡
						Apgar score	5 minute,	9.9±0.3		9.9±0.4 ‡
21. Novelia S, et al. 2018	EG:15 CG:15	Indonesia	Quasi experimental	Yoga 2 times in 2 weeks each lasting 90 minutes	Posttest group comparison:	Anxiety (Anxiety: Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale), n (%): (t = -9.83, p = 0.01)*	Yes	2 (13.3%)		15 (100%)
							No	13 (86.7%)		0 (0%)
22. Gonzalez et al. 2018	EG: 204 CG: 205	Spain	RCT	Music therapy for 40 minutes daily for 2 weeks	Posttest group comparison	Onset of labour n (%),p < 0.01*	Spontaneous	140 (68.63)		111 (54.2)
							Stimulated	5 (2.5)		12 (5.9)
							Induced	59 (28.9)		82 (40.0)
						Mode of delivery; n (%),P = 0.58‡	Vaginal	155 (75.9)		151 (73.7)
							C/S, n (%)	49 (24.02)		54 (26.3)
						Labour duration	First stage, hours	4.36 ±3.7		5.54 ±4.8*
						State-Trait-Anxiety (STA); posttest, group comparison	STA, points	30.6±13.2		43.1 ±15.0*
23. Beevi Z, et al. 2019	EG:28 CG:28	Malaysia	Quasi-experimental	Hypnosis provided at 16, 20, 28, and 36 weeks of their pregnancy and advised to practice every day until labour	2 month postnatal mean (SD) difference for group comparison	Stress: DASS-21	5.5±5.1	3.6±5.1 ‡
						Anxiety: DASS-21	2.9±3.0	38.4± 58.8*
						Depression: DASS-21	1.3± 2.4	6.7± 5.7*
						Depression: EPDS	5.7±2.8	10.6±4.0*
24. Pan Win Lan, et al. 2019	EG:39 CG:35	Taiwan	RCT	Mindfulness based Programs: Once every week for 8 weeks	Baseline and 3mo postpartum, mean (SD)	Stress: PSS, points	Pretest	15.4(5.7)		13.8(6.0)
							Posttest	11.6 ± 6.1		14.3 ±5.2
							Pre-post diff	3.8		0.5*
						Depression: EPDS, points	Pretest	9.5±4.0		8.7±4.5
							Posttest	6.5 ± 4.5		8.8 ±3.4
							Pre-post diff	3		-0.1*
25. Ahmadi M, et al. 2019	EG:75 CG:75	Iran	RCT	Progressive muscle relaxation/PMR	Posttest between group comparison	Length at birth	CM	52.1±3.6		48.6±3.4*
						Birth weight	G	3400±0.5		3200±0.6*
						Postpartum depression, day 1	Zung’s Self-rating Depression Scale	56.5±0.5		57.1±0.6‡
						Postpartum depression, day 3	Zung’s Self-rating Depression Scale	49.7±0.4		59.4±0.7*
						Postpartum depression, day 10	Zung’s Self-rating Depression Scale	44±0.4		60.3±0.8*
26. Rajeswari S, et al. 2020	EG: 120 CG: 119	India	RCT	Progressive Muscle Relaxation daily practice from 21/22 weeks of gestation until delivery	Posttest group comparison	Stress: Calvin Hobel scale: P < 0.001*	Minimal; n (%)	0 (0.00)		0 (0.0)
							Mild; n (%)	51 (41.6)		19 (15.2)
							Moderate; n (%)	67 (54.4)		71 (56.8)
							Severe; n (%)	5 (4.00)		35 (28.0)
							Overall stress;	40.5 ±8.6		77.6 ±8.9*
						Anxiety (S-STAI) Fisher exact test: F3 = 17.80, P < 0.001*	Minimal; n (%)	0 (0.0)		0 (0.0)
							Mild; n (%)	22 (17.9)		9 (7.2)
							Moderate; n (%)	97 (78.9)		84 (67.2)
							Severe; n (%)	4(3.2)		32 (25.6)
						Anxiety (T-STAI) Fisher exact test: F3 = 18.60, P < 0.001*	Minimal; n (%)	0 (0.00)		0 (0.0)
							Mild; n (%)	24 (10.0)		10 (8.0)
							Moderate; n (%)	95 (83.0)		83 (66.4)
							Severe; n (%)	4 (3.0)		32 (25.6)
						Overall anxiety: (STAI) Fisher exact test: F3 = 19.80, P < 0.001*	Minimal; n (%)	0 (0.0)		0 (0.0)
							Mild; n (%)	26 (11.0)		11 (8.8)
							Moderate; n (%)	93 (82.0)		82 (65.6)
							Severe; n (%)	4 (32.0)		32 (25.6)
						Postpartum depression	EPDS, points	6.9 ± 2.5		10.5 ±2.7*
						Gestational age, n (%) P = 0.01*	Before 37 weeks	14 (11.5)		25 (20.3)
							After 37 weeks	108 (88.5)		98 (79.7)
						Gestational age (weeks)		38.0±3.6		37.2±4.2*
						Apgar score; n (%); fisher exact test: P = 0.06‡	0‑3	0 (0.0)		3 (2.4)
							4–6	2 (1.7)		10 (8.2)
							7–10	120 (98.3)		110 (89.4)
						Apgar score	Score/10	8.3 ±0.2		8.0 ±0.6 ‡
						Birth weight	Kg	2.7 ±0.4		2.6 ±0.5*
						Mode of delivery n (%): P = 0.001*	Normal vaginal	90.0 (74.2)		61.0 (49.6)
							Assisted vaginal	5.0 (4.0)		12.0 (9.8)
							C/S	27 (21.8)		50 (40.60)
						Induced labour P = 0.019*	Yes, n (%)	110(9.0)		23 (20)
							No, n (%)	111 (91.0)		100 (80.0)
						Hypertension P = 0.037*	Yes, n (%)	4 (3.0)		12 (10.0)
							No, n (%)	118 (97)		111 (90)
27. Zarenejad M, et al. 2020	EG:30 CG:30	Iran	RCT	Mindfulness: 6 group counseling sessions twice a week, and each session lasted for 60 min	Posttest group comparison	Pregnancy-Related Anxiety: Posttest between group difference P = 0.001*	Pretest,	182.9 ± 74.2		195.1 ± 42.9
							Posttest immediate	154.5 ± 61.8		187.9 ± 41.5
							Posttest 1 month later	124.9 ± 45.5		182.5 ± 41.7
28. Abd Elgwad FMH, et al. 2021	EG:40 CG:40	Egypt	Non-randomized controlled clinical trial	Benson’s Relaxation twice daily (separated by 3 hours) for 3 days	Posttest group comparison	Stress: PSS, n (%)	Immediate posttest: P = 0.01*	Yes	25 (62.5)		40 (100)
								No	15 (37.5)		0 (0)
							Posttest after 3 days: P = 0.01*	Yes	10 (25)		40 (100)
								No	30 (75)		0 (0)
						Blood pressure: mmHg	SBP: Pretest	158.3±12.2		150.5±18.8*
							SBP immediate posttest	144.1±12.1		145.1±17.1‡
							SBP 3 days posttest	119.3±3.3		145.1±17.1*
							DBP pretest	95.2±11.2		90.8±12.2*
							DBP immediate posttest	87.8±9.5		87.4±9.8‡
							DBP 3 days posttest	77.0±4.6		87.4±9.8*
						Heart rate,	Pretest	92.3±7.2		97.8±16.3+
							Immediate posttest	87.4±6.1		93.1±10.0*
							3 days posttest	81.2±3.8		93.1±11.0*
						Respiration rate	Pretest	21.45±2.2		22.8±2.9*
							Immediate posttest	20.7±1.2		22.4±2.7*
							3 days posttest	18.6±1.2		22.4±2.7*
29. Bauer I, et al. 2021	EG1: 12 EG2: 12 CG: 12	Germany	RCT (3-arm, parallel-group)	EG1: Music EG2: Guided imagery (GI) CG: Resting Provided for 20 minute during labour	Pre/post	Indicators	Music group	GI group		Control group
						Cardiovascular activity on heart rate, 5 minutes posttest	−2.33±2.9	−1.9±1.8		−2.4±(3.4‡
						Cardiovascular activity on heart rate, 10 minutes posttest	− 2.5±5.6	−1.4±3.0		−2.6±4.3‡
						Heart rate variability	No significant group effect, F(2,94)  =  0.624, p  =  .538‡
						Skin conductance 5 minute posttest	0.01±0.1	0.2± 0.7		−0.1± 0.5‡
						Skin conductance 10 minute posttest	−0.04±0.2	−0.7±1.5		−0.1±0.6‡
30. Estrella-Juarez F, et al. 2022	EG1: 104 EG2: 124 CG: 115	Spain	RCT 3-arm parallel group	EG1:Music therapy and EG2: Virtual reality (VR) intervention during labour	Pre/post	Outcomes	Music	VR		Control
						First stage of labour, h	4.7±4.1	4.3±3.1		6.3±5.2*
						Spontaneous labour n (%)	50 (48.1)	103 (82.4)		59±51.8*
						Induction labour, n (%)	54 (51.9)	22 (17.6)		55 (48.2)*
						SVD, n (%)	49 (47.1)	73 (58.4)		56 (49.1) ‡
						Instrumental assisted, n (%)	21 (20.2)	32 (25.6)		26 (22.8) ‡
						C/S, n (%)	34 (32.7)	20 (16)		32 (28.1) ‡
						Pretest T-STAI	19.0± 6.9	19.2±7.1		19.8±7.4
						Posttest T-STAI	12.6±6.0	12.4±5.9		19.2±9.0
						Pre-post mean diff. (within group comparison)	6.4*	6.8*		0.6‡
						Pretest S-STAI	16.3±5.8	16.6±6.8		16.5±4.8
						Posttest S-STAI	14.7±3.3	15.2±3.3		17.6 ±7.2
						Pre-post diff (between group comparison)	1.6‡	1.3 ‡		−1.1 ‡
						SBP	106.9±8.3	108.3±9.8		115.9±11.4*
						DBP	69.9±7.3	70.4±7.9		75.0±8.9*
						Heart rate	79.2±8.4	79.8±7.9		83.0±10.4*
31. Abarghoee SN, et al. 2022	EG1: 35 EG2: 35 CG:35	Iran	RCT (A parallel, three-armed)	Benson Relaxation Technique (BRT) and Music Therapy (MT)	Pre/post within and between group comparison	Anxiety: S-STAI; Pre-post difference within group comparison	BRT group	MT group		CG
							Pre: 50.6±1.3	49.4±1.6		50.3±1.4
							Post: 42.3±1.3	43.1±1.2		48.3±1.7
							diff: 8.3*	diff: 6.3*		diff: 2.0‡
						Anxiety (S-STAI) pre/post between group comparison	Pre: 50.6±1.3	49.4±1.6		50.3±1.4 ‡
							Post: 42.3±1.3	43.1±1.2		48.3±1.7*
32. Ghorbanneja d S, et al. 2022	EG: 44 CG: 44	Iran	RCT	Jacobson’s progressive muscle relaxation	Posttest between group comparison	Birth weight	G	2863.5±176.0		2762.7±202.1*
						Birth length	CM	47.8±2.1		47.5±2.2‡
						HC	CM	34.7±0.2		34.5 0.1‡
						Gestational age	Week	36.3±0.7		36.2±0.8‡
						Apgar score	1st min	9.0±0.4		8.8±0.3‡
						BP: mmHg	SBP	137.6±3.9		147.5±5.0*
							DBP	88.7±3.8		99.2±4.5*
						FBS	Mg/Dl	101.8±6.8		111.0±9.5*

Abbreviations: ACTH, Adrenocorticotropic hormone; BP, Blood pressure; CG, CM, Centimeter; Control group; C/S: Cesarean section; DASS-21, Depression, anxiety, stress scale- 21 items version; DBP, Diastolic blood pressure; EG, Experimental group; EPDS, Edinburgh postnatal depression scale; FBS, Fasting blood glucose; h, hour; HR, Heart rate; GI, Guided imaginary; IQR, Inter-quartile range; Kg, Kilogram; mg/dL, milligram per deciliter; Mo, Month; PSS, Perceived stress scale; Pre, pretest, post, posttest, diff, difference; RCT, Randomized control trial; SBP, Systolic blood pressure; SD, Standard deviation; S-STAI-S, State-trait anxiety inventory–state version; T-STAI, State-trait anxiety inventory–trait version; SVD, Spontaneous vaginal delivery; VAS, Visual analogue scale; WDEQ, Wijma delivery expectancy questionnaire–modified version.

Note

* P < 0.05

+ p = 0.05

‡ P ≥ 0.05