Skip to main content

Perinatal Mental Health and Relational Support

African American women are 3-4 times more likely to die from pregnancy or childbirth-related causes than their White counterparts. Yet, little research has focused on Black women’s mental health during the perinatal period. We aim to understand how mental health in general and perinatal mental health are conceptualized and experienced by Black women and community-based doulas/birth workers. We also hope to explore the role of adjunctive treatments for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.

Publications

Nelson, T., Tomi, C. L., & Gebretensay, S. B. (in press). (Re)framing strength: How Superwoman Schema may impact perinatal anxiety and depression among African American women. Women’s Health Issues, Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.whi.2023.05.003

Nelson, T., & Ernst, S. C., & Watson-Singleton, N. N. (2023). Perinatal complications, poor hospital treatment, and positive screen for postpartum depressive symptoms among Black women. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 10(3), 1371-1378.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-022-01322-6

Presentations

Nelson, T. (2022, February). Community-based doulas speak: Preventing perinatal depression among perinatal African American Women. Paper presented at the 30th Conference of the National Association of African American Studies & Affiliates Virtual National Conference.

Nelson, T. (2019, June). “They kind of place me on a pedestal:” An investigation of Black motherhood as empowerment and resistance. In O. A. Moreno (Chair), Cultural, contextual, and intersectional approaches in the use of qualitative methods with diverse populations. Symposium conducted at the 6th Annual Conference of the Society for Qualitative Inquiry in Psychology, Boston, MA.

Battle, C. L., Sutton, K., Rossi, R., Nelson, T., & Abrantes, A. M. (2019, March). Perceived benefits and barriers to participation among depressed women who enroll in a prenatal walking program. Poster presented at the 40th Annual Meeting of the Society for Behavioral Medicine Annual Meeting, Washington, DC.