Therapeutic Effects of Benson’s Relaxation on Maternal Stress and Physiological Indicators in Antenatal Mothers with Pregnancy Induced Hypertension

Background: Hypertension during pregnancy, particularly Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension (PIH), presents a major challenge in maternal healthcare. It increases the risk of complications such as preeclampsia, eclampsia, and preterm birth. In addition to physical risks, PIH often contributes to elevated emotional stress, especially in hospitalized antenatal mothers, which can further worsen blood pressure and adversely affect maternal and fetal health. To assess the effectiveness of Benson’s Relaxation Therapy in reducing stress levels and physiological indicators, specifically blood pressure, among antenatal mothers with PIH. Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted with 60 antenatal mothers diagnosed with PIH, selected through purposive sampling and evenly divided into intervention and control groups. The intervention group received Benson’s Relaxation Therapy-comprising slow, deep nasal breathing with abdominal involvement and passive thought release-three times daily for 20 min over five consecutive days, in addition to standard medical treatment. The control group received only standard medical care. Pre- and post-intervention measurements of stress levels and blood pressure were compared between groups. Results: Post-intervention analysis showed a statistically significant reduction in perceived stress and blood pressure in the intervention group compared to the control group (p<0.005). Conclusion: Benson’s Relaxation Therapy is an effective, low-cost, and non-pharmacological approach for managing stress and blood pressure in antenatal mothers with PIH. Its simplicity and clinical applicability support its integration into routine prenatal care. Further studies with larger and more diverse populations are recommended to validate these findings.