Although there were no significant differences between
groups, positive effect sizes (range: .25–.40)
were found for the COPE program with respect to
maternal state anxiety at 3 of the 4 postdischarge
time points. With respect to total negative mood
state, COPE mothers reported significantly less negative
mood 1 month after hospitalization, compared
with control mothers (Table 4). In addition, there was
a trend for COPE mothers to report less total negative
mood 1 year after hospitalization, compared
with control mothers (P .10, medium effect size).
There were also small positive effects of the COPE
program on total negative mood state at all of the
postdischarge time points (range: .29–.42). Specifically,
COPE mothers reported significantly less depression
1 month after hospitalization and 6 months
after hospitalization, compared with control mothers
(Fig 1), with effect sizes ranging from .20 to .45.