Mother-Baby Singing Groups Can Reduce Postpartum Depression Symptoms

What is the effect of participation in a weekly singing group on symptoms of postpartum (postnatal) depression?

For mothers with postnatal depression, involvement in a weekly singing group with other mothers and their babies reduced symptoms more than participating in other mother-baby activities. This approach might be useful and inexpensive for practices or communities in which postnatal depression is common. (Level of Evidence = 1b–)

The researchers recruited potential participants via social media and primary care offices, and enrolled mothers who were experiencing postnatal depression with a score of at least 10 on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (more than 80% of the mothers had a score greater than 13, which would qualify them for treatment). The 199 mothers were allocated using concealed allocation to participate in a weekly singing group or to participate in existing community mother-baby activities. The singing group included 8 to 12 mother-baby pairs who sat in a circle on the floor and was taught a range of songs and used simple musical instruments (Melodies for Mums). Using intention-to-treat analysis, scores decreased by a clinically significant amount in both groups, but the singing mothers had lower average scores than the control group mothers at week 10 (10.7 vs 12.2; P = .023) and week 36 (9.85 vs 11.4; P = .026).

Study Design: Randomized controlled trial (nonblinded)

Funding Source: Government and foundation

Allocation: Concealed

Setting: Outpatient (any)

Reference: Bind RH, Lawrence AJ, Estevao C, et al. Clinical effectiveness, implementation effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a community singing intervention for postnatal depressive symptoms, SHAPER-PND: randomised controlled trial. Br J Psychiatry. 2025;227(6):836-845.