The Effect of Art-Based Mandala Coloring Activity on Postpartum Anxiety and Postpartum Depression

The postpartum period begins approximately one hour after delivery and expulsion of the placenta and lasts for six to eight weeks. This period involves not only physiological recovery but also complex psychosocial processes. Changes in parental responsibilities, family dynamics, self-perception, and body image are key components of the postpartum period. The first year after childbirth is considered a particularly sensitive period for women in terms of both physical and psychological health. This sensitivity arises not only from physical recovery but also from the responsibility of caring for a newborn and the effort required to adapt to psychosocial changes.

Because the majority of maternal deaths occur within the first month postpartum and most neonatal deaths occur during the first month of life, the postpartum period is considered a critical time for maternal and newborn health. Stress, anxiety, fatigue, and reduced self-care experienced during this period, when not adequately managed, may increase the risk of postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression. Postpartum depression not only negatively affects maternal physical and mental health but is also associated with early cessation of breastfeeding, impaired mother-infant bonding, delays in child language and behavioral development, disruptions in childhood vaccination schedules, and adverse health outcomes for the entire family. If left untreated, postpartum depression may lead to long-term negative consequences for mothers, children, and families.

The World Health Organization's postpartum care guidelines emphasize the importance of preventive care, counseling services, mental health assessment, family planning, and physical evaluation of both the mother and the infant during the first six weeks postpartum. Counseling topics include breastfeeding, umbilical cord care, emotional well-being, screening for postpartum depression, assessment of domestic violence risk, nutrition, hygiene, safe sexual practices, exercise, iron and folic acid supplementation, and psychosocial support. Despite these recommendations, significant gaps remain in the provision of mental health services during the postpartum transition period, and systematic evaluation of maternal emotional well-being by health professionals is often insufficient. This highlights the need for supportive, non-pharmacological interventions during the postpartum period.

Stress, metabolic changes, and hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy and the postpartum period may increase anxiety levels and contribute to the development of postpartum depression, which is the most common psychiatric disorder following childbirth. Postpartum depression affects not only maternal health but also child development and parenting behaviors. When untreated, it can have profound and lasting negative effects on mothers, children, and families. Early identification of postpartum mental health problems and the implementation of supportive interventions are therefore of critical importance.

Mandala is an art form known to promote psychological relaxation and is typically composed of circular or geometric patterns. Mandalas may be used as a meditation tool and help direct attention to the present moment. Carl Gustav Jung described mandala techniques as therapeutic tools that reflect the individual's inner world and support psychological balance. Mandala practices are generally categorized as unstructured mandalas, which involve free drawing within a circle, and structured mandalas, which involve coloring predefined patterns. Structured mandala coloring is considered an art-based therapeutic approach that enhances attention, mindfulness, and emotional regulation. Although previous studies have demonstrated positive effects of mandala coloring on stress, anxiety, and emotional well-being, research examining its effects on postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression among postpartum women is limited. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effects of a structured mandala coloring activity on postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression.

This study is designed as a randomized controlled experimental trial and will be conducted at Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University Health Practice and Research Center, Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic. The study population will consist of women who give birth at the clinic. Eligible participants will include women who are able to speak and understand Turkish, are 18 years of age or older, are literate, voluntarily agree to participate in the study, and provide written informed consent. Additional inclusion criteria include having no diagnosed psychiatric disorder, not currently receiving psychological or psychiatric support (therapy, counseling, or medication), experiencing no maternal complications during delivery, and having a newborn without congenital malformations, anomalies, or complications. Exclusion criteria include a history of psychological or psychiatric treatment or receiving such treatment during the data collection period, the presence of serious neurological or psychiatric disorders affecting cognitive function, severe health conditions that impair communication or participation in the study, failure to provide informed consent, inability to speak or understand Turkish, and the presence of maternal or neonatal complications during delivery.

Sample size was calculated using G*Power software version 3.1.9.7. Because no previous studies were identified that simultaneously evaluated the effects of mandala art on postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression, effect size estimation was not possible. Therefore, a moderate effect size (f = 0.25), as recommended by Cohen for F-test-based power analysis, was used. The power analysis was conducted with a significance level of α = 0.05 and statistical power of 95% (1-β = 0.95). Based on this analysis, a minimum of 22 participants per group was required. Considering the presence of multiple measurement time points and the time-consuming nature of the data collection process, the sample size was increased to compensate for potential data loss. Accordingly, a total of 60 women, with 30 participants in the intervention group and 30 participants in the control group, were planned to be included in the study.

Participants will be randomized into intervention and control groups using a lottery method. Considering that approximately 30 births occur weekly at the study site, participant selection will be conducted five days per week to prevent scheduling conflicts and ensure feasibility of follow-up. On each recruitment day, women who give birth and meet the inclusion criteria will be assigned to either the intervention or control group. After group allocation, participants will receive detailed information about the study, and the telephone numbers of those who consent to participate will be recorded. Within the hospital setting, only participant selection and mandala training will be conducted, and no additional interventions will be applied.

Participants in the intervention group will receive individual mandala coloring training before hospital discharge. The training will last approximately 20 minutes and will consist of three stages. In the first stage, participants will receive information about mandala coloring. In the second stage, a trained researcher with certification in mandala art will demonstrate the coloring process using a sample mandala. In the third stage, participants will complete a brief practice session on a sample mandala. Following the training, participants will be provided with a mandala coloring set for home use. Participants in the intervention group will be followed for eight weeks, with weekly telephone contacts. During the first contact, a personal information form and the postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression scales will be administered to collect baseline data. In subsequent contacts, the frequency and duration of mandala coloring activities will be assessed, and participants will be asked to share photographs of their completed mandala work via a messaging application.

During telephone follow-ups, individualized counseling will be provided based on participants' needs and questions. Although the counseling will not follow a standardized format, it may include topics such as maternal perineal hygiene, nutrition, breastfeeding, breast care, and basic infant care practices. Postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression scales will be administered at the 1st, 4th, and 8th weeks of the study.

Participants in the control group will not receive any intervention and will continue to receive routine postpartum care. Data from the control group will be collected via telephone at the same time points as the intervention group.

Ethical approval for this study has been obtained. All study procedures will be conducted in accordance with ethical principles governing research involving human participants. Participant confidentiality will be maintained, data will be kept confidential, and participation will be entirely voluntary. Participants will have the right to withdraw from the study at any time without consequences.