Effects of antenatal education on maternal anxiety and depression in pregnancy and postpartum period in Italy: modest and transient symptom reductions

Our results suggest antenatal education classes are modestly effective in reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms during pregnancy. However, these modest prenatal improvements attenuate after adjustment and do not persist into the postpartum period. This indicates a need for standardized, evidence-based antenatal education that is integrated into broader psychosocial support frameworks.