Current research studies
The Antenatal & Postnatal Psychology Network (APPN) is committed to supporting ongoing research into perinatal mental health. To this end, we provide a platform on our website for researchers to post information about their studies. If you are interested in participating in a study listed below, click on the relevant links. Participation in research, and the findings that result from research, greatly benefit practitioners in the perinatal mental health field to better understand how to help the women, men and couples with whom they work.
Read research disclaimer
Thank you for your consideration.
Participants required: 20 women in their third trimester of pregnancy and 20 women who are not pregnant, have never been pregnant and are not planning to become pregnant in the next 12 months
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Does late pregnancy affect women's cognitive functioning?
Listed 3rd July, 2018
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This study aims to better understand how pregnancy may affect women’s cognitive functioning. In particular, we are interested in investigating whether pregnancy is associated with differences in executive functioning performance in the context of food and non-food related stimuli. The findings of this research may be used to help improve our understanding of the relationship between pregnancy and women's cognitive performance, and how these changes may be implicated in women's health during pregnancy and beyond.
If you agree to participate in this study, you will be first asked to complete an online questionnaire (1 hour) at a time and place convenient to you. You will then be invited to attend an in-person lab-based testing session at Deakin University's Burwood campus (3-4 hours). During this lab-based testing session, you will be required to complete a set of behavioural neuropsychological tasks before also completing three computerised tasks while wearing an EEG cap. EEG is a completely safe and non-invasive method used to measure brain wave activity in infants, children, and adults. Finally, you will be asked to complete a 5-Day Food Diary in the week following your lab testing session. |
To participate in this study, please contact Sasha Davies and the Baby Brain Research Project team by visiting www.babybrainresearch.com
or emailing nextgen@deakin.edu.au. All participants will be reimbursed with a $20 Coles-Myer gift voucher. Please note that participants who have experienced a significant head/brain injury, or who have a history of significant psychological illness, may not be eligible to participate. Thank you for your interest. |
Participants required: Same sex attracted pregnant women and new mums
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Emotional Wellbeing in Sexual Minority Women in the Perinatal Period
Listed 29th June, 2018 |
La Trobe University Australia is conducting an anonymous 10-15 minute online survey investigating factors associated with wellbeing in same-sex attracted women in the perinatal period (the period from conception up to your baby’s second birthday). We are interested in the experiences of all mothers including single mothers, birth-mothers, co-mothers, and mothers of adopted children.
The survey asks a series of questions about your well-being and your experiences as a same-sex attracted woman. We want to understand factors associated with well-being during the perinatal period, so we can improve services for this group. |
To participate in this study, please follow the link to the participant information statement and anonymous online questionnaire: https://latrobe.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ey5cXWfMJfYDqyp
Thank you. |
Participants required: Women who have a baby 12 months old or younger (with or without a diagnosis of postnatal depression).
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Baby & Body Study
Listed 22nd January, 2018 |
The purpose of this study is to explore how women feel about their body after the birth of their baby. Body image and depressive symptoms can be inter-related, and we would like to know what new mothers think about the relationship between depression and body image. The findings of this research may be used to help the researchers in understanding the relationship between depression and body image for women with a new baby, and to assist women diagnosed with depression to manage body image issues.
Participants must be over 18 years old, and must be able to speak and read English. |
If you agree to participate in this study, you will be asked to complete a telephone or Skype interview that will be audio-recorded. Completion of this interview should take approximately 30 minutes. If you have a diagnosis of postnatal depression and wish to participate, you must be currently receiving support from a GP, psychologist, psychiatrist, maternal-child health nurse or other mental health professional so that we know your wellbeing is being monitored.
To participate in this study, please email Eliza Hartley: eliza.hartley@deakin.edu.au |
Participants required: Parents with personal experience of perinatal OCD, and clinicians/researchers with expertise in perinatal OCD
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Perinatal Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Study
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The aim of this study is to fill an existing gap in the clinical literature and produce, by collating expert consensus, a set of clinical guidelines for health professionals on the assessment, treatment, and management of individuals with perinatal OCD.
We are looking for individuals who have experienced OCD in the antenatal and/or postnatal period (‘perinatal OCD’), or who have cared for someone who has (e.g. partner, adult child), to participate in a research study to help us learn more about this often misunderstood condition. We are also recruiting mental health professionals and researchers with expertise in perinatal OCD. |
This study involves completing a series of online surveys as part of an online expert panel. The views we collect in this study will be used to develop best-practice guidelines to help clinicians effectively support individuals and families affected by perinatal OCD.
Survey responses will be linked using an anonymous code so that only the research team will be able to identify individual participants' responses. For more information, or to express your interest in taking part, please go to https://tinyurl.com/y7g2elle or email melissa.mulcahy@postgrad.curtin.edu.au. On behalf of our research team, thank you for your interest. Melissa Mulcahy |
Listed 16th August, 2017
Participants required: Australian, New Zealand, UK, and USA clinicians who work with new/expecting parents
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Professional knowledge and practice in perinatal mental health
Listed 24th July 2017 |
We are looking for doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals from Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the USA who are currently or have recently worked with new/expecting parents to participate in our study investigating professional knowledge and practice in perinatal mental health. We hope that the results of the survey will provide us with greater insight into the way professionals may make decisions when working with perinatal individuals in clinical practice, to help us to identify clinicians’ training and development needs.
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Our study involves completing an anonymous, one-time 15-20 minute online survey. In this survey, we will ask you to read a short paragraph describing an individual who is experiencing personal difficulties following the birth of their newborn baby. You will then be asked to respond to a series of questions and statements. To participate or find out more, please visit - https://tinyurl.com/ybmoj54a
Participants can choose to provide their contact information to go into a random prize draw to win one of two $50 iTunes or Prepaid Visa gift cards (value in Australian Dollars, or AUD). This contact information will be recorded separately from survey responses, so that the answers you give in the survey will remain anonymous. Thank you for your interest in our research Melissa Mulcahy |
Participants required: All mothers who have had a baby within the last 2 years, are over 18 years of age, living in Australia, and speak fluent English
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Are postnatal experiences different for first-time and experienced mothers?
Listed 22nd June 2017
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This study explores the potentially different postnatal experiences of First-Time and Experienced Mothers, including well-being, feelings about motherhood and perceptions of Maternal and Child Health Nurse support. We are interested to hear from all mothers, including those who have experienced or are currently experiencing symptoms of postnatal depression or anxiety.
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If you are interested in participating in this study, the anonymous survey should take approximately 45 minutes to complete online. It includes some open-ended questions that are not essential, but provide very helpful detail about mothers' experiences if you are able to complete them!
As a token of appreciation, all participants can be entered into a prize draw to win 1 of 3 $100 Coles-Myer gift cards. An email address will be required for entry to the prize draw so winners can be notified, but this cannot be linked to your survey responses. Follow link: https://bit.ly/2sgH5En Thank you for your interest Esther Mohring |
Participants required: Women in the third trimester of pregnancy (over 35 weeks)
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How do infant feeding attitudes change from pregnancy to the postpartum period?
STUDY CLOSED
Listed 9th December 2016
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This study is looking at how infant feeding attitudes change from pregnancy to the postpartum period. The study requires you to complete two surveys, one now and one six weeks from your predicted due date.
Responses are completely anonymous and upon completion of the second survey you are able to enter a competition to win £25 in Amazon vouchers. Each survey should take between 15-20 minutes to complete. Specifically, this study is looking at whether a woman's breastfeeding self-efficacy (confidence breastfeeding) mediates the established relationship between breastfeeding intention and infant feeding outcomes. |
If you are interested in participating in this study, please click this link to be taken to the first survey. https://livpsych.az1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_8GROYiF3E4dmHaZ .
When you finish the first survey you will be redirected to a second survey to enter your email address. You will then be contacted from this email six weeks after your due date (asked in the survey) with another link to complete the second survey. You will then be redirected to another survey to enter the competition. Please note that in order to maintain anonymity, questions asking for email addresses are kept in a separate datasheet from the rest of the surveys. |
Participants required: Women aged 18 years or older, living in Australia and currently between 18 and 24 weeks
pregnant with either first or later-born child.
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Investigating psychosocial factors and their impact on eating behaviours during pregnancy and the postpartum
STUDY CLOSED 
Listed 21st November 2016
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The aim of this study is to explore the experience of pregnancy and the first few months after giving birth for women with and without a history of an eating disorder. We will be exploring eating behaviours, general mood and feelings towards yourself, attachment to your baby during pregnancy and after birth, social support, relationship satisfaction (if you are currently in a romantic relationship) and attitudes towards pregnancy and motherhood.
Participation involves completing an online questionnaire during the second trimester (18-24 week gestation), third trimester (30-32 weeks gestation) and early postpartum (8-10 weeks postpartum). These questionnaires take between 30 and 45 minutes to complete. Participants may choose to remain anonymous after completing the first questionnaire and not partake in any following questionnaires. As a token of our appreciation, participants will be entered into a prize draw to win one of four $200 “Baby Bunting” gift cards. For more information click on the link or email rbaskin@swin.edu.au |
Thank you for your interest in the study, Rachel Baskin |
Participants required: Women who can say "yes" to the following questions:
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1. Are you feeling depressed or stressed?
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Listed 20th November 2016 |
FIFO and Managing a Baby (FaMB) Study is for Mums who have a baby aged 2 – 6 months.
Previous research has shown that social supports (from partners, family, friends, and care providers) are important in managing stress in the period after a baby is born. Wives and girlfriends of FIFO workers have different supports because their partners are away for work. There have been no other studies finding out what support is needed for women with FIFO partners working away who are said to be at increased risk of postnatal depression. All participants go in the draw to win $500 Coles Myer voucher |
Please answer the online survey.
We hope you register for a phone chat/interview too. http://www.sph.uwa.edu.au/research/fifo/famb Thank you for your interest in our study Lauren Corso |
Participants required: Women who can say "yes"to the following 5 questions: |
1. Are you feeling depressed or stressed?
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Listed 20th November 2016
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We would like to better understand how women cope with stressful events that can occur during pregnancy. People cope with good and bad situations in a number of different ways.
The aim is to learn about strategies that work and do not work from FIFO wives or girlfriends and share the helpful coping methods with everyone. All participants go in the draw to win a $500 Coles Myer voucher |
If you can say YES to the above 5 questions
PLEASE ANSWER ONE OR BOTH ONLINE SURVEYS Coping with My Baby (CoMB) Study is for pregnant Mums. Please answer a short online survey and register for the optional interview if you are willing to have a chat over the phone. Go direct to the webpage http://www.sph.uwa.edu.au/research/fifo/comb Thank you for your interest in our study
Jessica Ashburner |
Participants required: Women who are 8-15 weeks pregnant at the start of the study (now)
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Perinatal Food and Mood Study 
Listed 17th November 2016
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This study is looking at whether what you eat in pregnancy affects your mood during pregnancy and after. Participants will be asked to complete 4 online questionnaires - 2 during pregnancy and 2 during the postnatal months. The questionnaires each take about 20 minutes to complete. All participants will go in a draw to win shopping vouchers at each data collection point. |
Please go to our web page to participate in this study www.perinatalfoodandmoodstudy.com.au Thank you for your interest Angie Willcocks |
Participants required: Couples experiencing infertility
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Acceptance and mindfulness in couples dealing with infertility
Listed 8th May 2016 |
It is known that infertility and its treatment can be stressors which strain but also strengthen couples’ relationships. Partners under this stress typically lose their ability to discuss their difficulties and more likely to feel sadness, grief, and hopelessness. Some people dealing with fertility related problems feel alone and bad about themselves.
We are conducting this research in order to understand your experiences better and contribute to the development of helpful fertility related psychological support programs. We seek to replace your despair with hope and isolation with meaningful engagement in loving relationships and valued living. |
We invite individuals and couples to share their experiences by completing an online survey.
Please access the survey using the following link: https://www.psychdata.com/s.asp?SID=167038 Your privacy and confidentiality are assured. The aim of this research is to investigate the role of acceptance and mindfulness in relation to couples’ coping and adjustment within the context of infertility. Both partners are invited to participate. In instances where both partners cannot contribute, individual partner participation is also encouraged. If you have any questions regarding this research, please don't hesitate to contact me at anastasiia.kuliapina@student.bond.edu.au As a “Thank you” and reimbursement for your time, upon completion of the survey, you can enter into a draw to win a gift card valued at $100US. Thank you very much for your time and interest in this research. Anastasiia Kuliapina |
Participants required: Women over the age of 18, who are currently pregnant or have given birth in the last 12 months
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Experiences of Pregnancy and the Year After Birth
Listed 16th May 2016
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Are you currently pregnant, or have you given birth in the last 12 months?
We invite you to share your experiences in this survey. The research project is part of a psychology honours thesis project, and seeks to understand women's experiences during pregnancy and the year after birth. This study is being conducted to further improve screening and treatments for perinatal mood disorders. |
We invite women who are currently pregnant, or who have given birth over the past 12 months, to complete the survey available at the following link https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9Z7G3QF. All responses are anonymous.
As a "thank you" for your participation, on completion of the survey participants can choose to complete a separate (short) survey to enter a prize draw to win a $50 Coles Myer e-Gift card. Thank you for your interest. Sharleen Keleher |
Participants required: Males or females over 18
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The acceptability and usefulness of a
website addressing how partners can support each other to prevent perinatal depression and anxiety in the transition to parenthood 
Listed 24th May 2016 |
The birth of a child is commonly associated with celebration and delight. However, the transition to parenthood is also a vulnerable time, associated with stress and fatigue. Partner support plays a key role in facilitating adjustment to parenthood and reduces the risk for perinatal depression and anxiety. This website aims to provide couples with practical advice on how to strengthen their relationship and enhance partner support during the transition to parenthood.
The present research aims to investigate the demographic characteristics of those who access the website and explore the usefulness of this website. Your valuable feedback on the usefulness of the website will inform website refinement and may improve its effectiveness in preventing perinatal mental health difficulties. |
Access and complete a brief online survey (approximately 5 minutes duration) incorporating demographic items, usefulness items, the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (relationship items); and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.
Visit www.partnerstoparents.org and complete the brief survey at https://acu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eLLavXGnbXjk0Rv Thank you for your interest 
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Participants required: You need to have given birth to your child within the past two years, and be aged 18 years or
over
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The MotherCare Project STUDY CLOSED 
Listed 17th June 2016 |
Have you given birth to your baby in the last two years?
Are you interested in taking better care of yourself as a new mum? The MotherCare project is an initiative of researchers at The University of Queensland. Our aim is to discover better ways to care for the psychological wellbeing of mothers, particularly in supporting mothers to cope with difficult thoughts and feelings about their childbirth and early infant feeding experiences. |
Participation involves completing two short, anonymous online surveys (one immediately, and another four weeks after completing the first survey). The surveys will ask you questions about your own coping, childbirth, and feeding experiences (both breastfeeding and bottle feeding). As part of participating you will receive free-of-cost information and guided activities intended to promote your wellbeing. You will receive this information in the form of two short online videos.
If you are interested in learning more please go to https://exp.psy.uq.edu.au/mothercare/ Thank you for your interest in our study Amy Mitchell |
Participants required: Fathers (18 years and over) who identify as having developed symptoms of depression such as, increased anxiety, stress and / or anger since the arrival of their child or children.
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Fathers’ lived experience of Post Natal Depression: A qualitative study
STUDY CLOSED 
Listed 12th July 2016 |
The aim of my research project, (approved by the Cairnmillar Institute's School of Psychology Psychotherapy and Counselling Ethics Committee), is to explore men’s lived experience of having developed symptoms of depression, such as increased anxiety, stress and / or anger since the arrival of their child or children.
There has been much research exploring the lived experiences of women regarding their experience of having developed depression, including symptoms such anxiety, stress and /or anger since having had a child or children. There is, however, significantly less research discussing the experience of fathers, in their own voices, of their having developed increased levels of stress, anxiety and /or anger since having had a child or children. If you would like to take part the research you need to know that the interview will involve two parts. The first part requires that you complete a 5 minute self-report on depression and a simple demographic questionnaire. You may then be invited to participate in an interview anticipated to be of 60-75 minutes duration. The total anticipated duration of the interview is 90 minutes. The interview will also explore what the participants perceive has been helpful and/or unhelpful to them in terms of managing their recovery |
If you would like to take part in this study, please contact me, Zelinda Hoyle, on the contact numbers provided to discuss your interest.
We can discuss the study and arrange to schedule a meeting if you are still interested after speaking with me. Thank you in anticipation for your interest. Zelinda Hoyle Telephone 0414 906 085. Email: 1091-11@cairnmillar.edu.au |
