A chance for new mums to let the health sector know what they need in terms perinatal care has begun as Southern Cross University researchers are inviting mothers across Australia to participate in a new study exploring how key relationships impact perinatal well-being in the first year after birth.
Led by Bachelor of Psychological Science with Honours student Natalie Joy, under the supervision of Adjunct Fellow in the Faculty of Health Dr Julia Marsden, the online study is open to Australian mothers with babies aged 0-12 months.
A dynamic and deeply personal experience
‘Perinatal well-being is a dynamic and deeply personal experience — it encompasses the physical, emotional, social, and relational changes women navigate as they transition into motherhood,’ said Dr Marsden.
‘Through this study, we hope to better understand how close relationships influence that journey, so we can help ensure support is more holistic, personalised, and truly responsive to women’s needs.’
Emotional, social and psychological challenges
Many women experience emotional, social and psychological challenges in the first year after birth, however, support systems are often inconsistent or poorly tailored to their needs.
According to the Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE) and the Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia (PANDA), around one in five mothers experience anxiety during the perinatal period and 10 per cent experience depression.’
An overlooked aspect of maternal mental health
This study shines a spotlight on a critical but often overlooked aspect of maternal mental health,’ said Dr Marsden.
‘While anxiety and depression are rightly recognised as serious concerns, we also need to better understand what supports mothers to thrive – not just avoid distress.
By exploring how close relationships and attachment styles shape perinatal well-being, this project could help identify protective factors and early warning signs, ultimately guiding more personalised and preventative approaches to care during the first year postpartum.’
How to participate
Recruitment for the study is open now. The anonymous online survey takes around 15-20 minutes and is open to Australian mothers aged 18 and above, who are within the first 12 months postpartum, have lived in Australia for two or more years, and are English-speaking. Participants go into the draw to win one of four $50 gift vouchers.
Take participate in the survey, click here.
This study has been approved by the Southern Cross University Human Research Ethics Committee (Approval number: 2025/114).
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