Maternal Epigenetics Training: Stress, Cortisol, and Epigenetic Awareness During Pregnancy
Official title: Epigenetic and Cortisol Level Reflections of Maternal Stress During Pregnancy: A Randomized Controlled Trial on the Effectiveness of Educational Programs
Run by Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University · NCT07764380 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests whether a three-week maternal epigenetics education program, added to prenatal classes, can lower stress and cortisol levels and boost understanding of epigenetic effects in pregnant women.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 49 Years |
| Sex | Women only |
| Enrollment | 140 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Kahramanmaraş and 1 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | May 15, 2026 |
| Main results expected | September 15, 2026 |
| Study ends | December 15, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | August 13, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07764380 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Pregnant women aged 18 or older, in any trimester, with singleton pregnancies, who can read Turkish and voluntarily participate in prenatal education classes.
✕Probably not a fit
Pregnant women with high-risk pregnancies, non-singleton pregnancies, or those unable to participate in the education program may not benefit from the intervention.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This interventional study uses a quasi-experimental design with an experimental and control group to examine the impact of a Maternal Epigenetics Education Module. Pregnant women enrolled in a prenatal education program are randomly assigned to receive the module or serve as controls, with pre- and post-test data collection. Data include stress scores, epigenetic awareness knowledge, and saliva cortisol measurements collected at baseline and after the intervention. The module consists of three weekly sessions focusing on stress management and epigenetic effects during pregnancy. The study aims to determine whether the education alters cortisol levels and increases epigenetic knowledge among participants.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could help reduce stress and provide pregnant individuals with better understanding of how stress may influence epigenetic processes.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has explored stress management and education during pregnancy, with mixed results; this approach of combining stress management with epigenetic awareness is relatively novel in this setting.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Pregnant women aged 18 and older * Pregnant women in any trimester of pregnancy * Pregnant women who can read and understand Turkish * Pregnant women who voluntarily agree to participate in the study * Having a singleton pregnancy * Pregnant women without a high-risk pregnancy * Pregnant women who voluntarily participate in prenatal education classes will be included. Exclusion Criteria: * Foreign nationals with communication difficulties, * Multiple pregnancies, * Illiterate pregnant women, * Migrant pregnant women who do not speak Turkish, * Pregnant women with high-risk pregnancies, * Pregnant women not enrolled in prenatal education programs, * Pregnant women with intellectual disabilities, * Pregnant women who refuse to participate in the study will be excluded.
Where it's running
-
Emine Aksüt Akçay
Kahramanmaraş, Turkey (Türkiye) Recruiting -
Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University
Kahramanmaraş, Turkey (Türkiye) Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: İsmail Gürkan Çıkım, Professor
- Email: ismailgurkancikim@ksu.edu.tr
- Phone: (344) 310-0000
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.