Singing helped depressed new mums. Most other gains came without singing too.
People say: “Any baby group helps a new mum just as much” We read the study.
Randomised controlled trial (RCT). 199 people. 10-week intervention; assessments at baseline and weeks 6, 10, 20 and 36 (clinician-rated HDRS only at baseline and week 10; mother-infant video at baseline, week 10, week 36).
A trial. Chance decided who did what.
Who: Mothers aged 18+ in London (mainly Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham) with infants aged 0-9 months and possible postnatal depression (EPDS 10 or more at screening); recruited 2021-2024
- Depression dropfasterinterviewer-rated
- Feeling supportedhigherself-reported
- Extra anxiety reliefnoneboth groups better
More to know, from our read of the paper:
- Secondary-outcomes paper: 14 outcome measures tested; only clinician-rated depression (HDRS) and perceived social support differed between groups
- Unblinded: mothers AND assessors knew the group (HDRS interviewer-rated by two unblinded assessors reaching consensus). Say 'interviewer-rated', and don't oversell
- On the mothers' own depression questionnaire (BDI, to week 36) both groups improved alike (no time x group interaction). The primary-outcome paper (EPDS) reported a benefit, but that paper was not checked here
- HDRS measured only at baseline and week 10: unknown whether the advantage lasted (authors)
- Anxiety (STAI-S, ONS-A), stress (PSS), loneliness (UCLA), self-efficacy and ONS well-being improved over time in BOTH groups with no group difference; one sensitivity model showed a group difference for ONS happiness only (p=0.03)
Extra help for depression and support. Not anxiety.
- Ask about singing groupsTested as an add-on, not instead of care.
A London trial randomised 199 mothers with signs of postnatal depression: two in three joined a 10-week group singing class, the rest were pointed to other mum-and-baby activities. By week 10, interviewers rated depression as falling faster in the singing group, and singing mums reported feeling more supported. But on the mums' own depression questionnaire, and for anxiety, stress, loneliness and well-being, both groups improved alike. Mothers and interviewers knew who was singing.
Laijawala R, Bind RH, Alford S, Estevao C, Hazelgrove K, Priestley K, Rebecchini L, Kirkpatrick M, Miller C, Sethna V, Woods AJ, Crane N, Manoharan M, Burton A, Dye H, Osborn T, Greenwood L, Dazzan P, Pariante CM, Fancourt D (2026). Assessing the impact of a postnatal singing intervention on mental health, well-being measures and mother-infant interaction: results from the SHAPER-PND trial. BMJ Mental Health.
Design: Randomised controlled trial (RCT) · randomised controlled trial (hybrid type 2, multicentre, South London), 2:1 allocation to a 10-week group singing programme (Breathe Melodies for Mums) vs an active control (signposting to non-music mother-baby activities with the same text/phone contact); unblinded; this paper reports SECONDARY outcomes (primary EPDS outcome published separately)
DOI: 10.1136/bmjment-2026-302774
Goals:
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