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: First-time mothers
Childbirth experiences and trauma in first-time mothers
Listed 23rd June 2020 |
Invitation to first-time mothers to participate in a study looking into the mental health of first-time mothers.
The project aims to look into the beliefs mothers hold about themselves, others and the world and how this impacts the way childbirth is experienced. By gaining a better understanding of individual vulnerability factors and different experiences of childbirth, we hope to put forward some strategies to support first time mothers in the future. We are interested to hear from first-time mothers who: • had a baby more than a month ago • had a pregnancy that was full-term (more than 37 weeks) • older than 18 In order to minimise any potential distress, we ask that you do not participate if you meet any of the following conditions: • You are under 18 years of age • Your baby/babies died during or soon after the birth • Your baby / babies were born before 37 weeks’ gestation |
Data will be collected by an anonymous online survey. The survey will take approximately 20 mins to complete and will ask some general demographic questions about you, as well as your thoughts and beliefs about yourself and others, your recent childbirth experience, and also about potential traumatic events during (or immediately after) the labour and birth.
If you would like to participate, click on or enter the link: https://csufobjbs.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6DSSjngRPrYi3Ih Please contact members of the research team if you would like further information or to discuss the study before you decide to participate: Student researcher: Danielle de Guara – danielledeguara@gmail.com or Supervising researcher: Dr Karl Wiener kwiener@csu.edu.au We would really appreciate your involvement into this really important study. Thank you. |
Participants required: Parent of a preterm infant, child, or adolescent who is now 0-18 years of age.
The FAB Study
listed 18th June, 2020 |
The FAB Study is taking a much-needed positive approach to understanding the family unit by investigating factors that promote resilience to stress, in families following preterm birth.
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For more information and to participate in this study, please visit the website (https://exp.psy.uq.edu.au/fab) or contact the study coordinator, Ms. Olivia Yaksich, o.yaksich@uq.net.au.
You can also follow this study on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefabstudy/. Thank you for your interest. |
Participants required: Mothers of children aged between 0-4 years.
Mothers and Social Media
Listed 18th June, 2020 |
This research project is being undertaken as part of a Masters study for Melissa Harding, at Queensland University of Technology.
The purpose of this research project is to understand how mothers use social media and what effects social media use can have on mothers. As a mother of a child/ren aged between 0-4 years, you are invited to participate in this research project. |
Participation will involve completing an online survey that involves a short writing task and answering questions about a hypothetical Facebook post and about yourself. The study will take approximately 20 minutes of your time to complete.
Find out more at: https://qutpsych.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0HvEkToyRrU3V77 Thank you for your interest. |
Participants required: Health practitioners, educators, policy makers, researchers or program managers whose work relates to family or child health and well-being in Australia.
Delphi expert consensus study: Establishing expert consensus about interventions for preventing and ameliorating the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences.
Listed 12th June, 2020 |
Researchers from the University of Melbourne are conducting an online an online Delphi expert consensus study to improve our understanding of the prevention of Adverse Childhood Experiences.
You may be eligible to participate in this study if you: are 18 years or older, and have at least of 5 years’ experience as a health practitioner, educator, policy maker, researcher, or program manager related to family or child health and well-being in Australia. |
The study involves completing three rounds of online surveys to rate a set of intervention programs for adverse childhood experiences.
To participate in this study, please follow the link to the participant information statement and anonymous online questionnaire: https://melbourneuni.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9zbP0Wu6b5lUrMF This survey should take 40-70 minutes to complete, and can be completed in multiple sittings if you choose. The survey will stay open until Sunday 30 June. If you require more information, please call or email Berhe Sahle at: berhe.sahle@unimelb.edu.au or +61 3 8344 8627 |
Participants required: First-time mothers who are less than 32 weeks pregnant and currently experiencing sleep difficulties.
The Study for Mother-Infant Sleep (SMILE)
Listed 14th May 2020 |
Are you currently pregnant and looking to improve your sleep?
You are invited to participate in a research project that evaluates different approaches to improving sleep for first-time mothers who currently experience sleeping difficulties. We would like to hear from women who are: • At least 18 years old. • A first-time mother. • Have difficulty with their sleep. • In 26-32 weeks of a singleton pregnancy (for example, not twin pregnancy). • Able to read and write in English. • Have regular email and internet access. • Have regular access to a smartphone. |
While participating, you will be allocated to 1 of 3 sleep programs and receive either:
1. A new ‘smart’ bassinet designed to help baby’s sleep. 2. Sleep information and strategies via email at 6 different times during pregnancy and after your baby is born. 3. A booklet containing sleep information and sleep hygiene. While participating you will also speak to a researcher on the phone once during pregnancy and twice after your baby is born, and answer 5 sets of online questionnaires. The programs are completely free. To thank you for your time and effort, we will give you up to $60 in gift vouchers. For information and sign up, click on the following link: https://redcap.cdms.org.au/surveys/?s=MN8MX3RPDY If you have any questions, please email our research team at base.smile@monash.edu, or call +61 451 670 036. This project has been approved by the Royal Women’s Hospital Human Research Ethics Committee: 19/17 Thank you for your interest. |
Participants required: Women and/or their partners who have tried unsuccessfully to conceive for at least 12 months after having had a successful pregnancy/pregnancies
Experiences of Secondary Infertility: Emotions, Support and Coping Strategies
Listed 8th March, 2020
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We are seeking participants to take part in a research study on experiences of secondary infertility.
As a participant in this study, you will be asked to take part in an interview with the researchers, at your convenience, to describe your experiences of secondary infertility. To be eligible, you must have experienced secondary infertility. This means you or your partner tried unsuccessfully to conceive for at least 12 months after having had previous successful pregnancies. We are interested in speaking with the person seeking to carry a pregnancy and/or partners of the person seeking to carry a pregnancy. |
Your participation would involve one session, lasting approximately one hour. Your disclosures will be confidential, and you will be unable to be identified from any information shared with the researchers.
You may not receive a direct benefit from this study, but your participation may help discover the ways to best support other individuals who experience secondary infertility in the future. For more information about this study, or to volunteer, please contact: Ms Georgina Draxler School of Psychology at Email: georgina.draxler@student.adelaide.edu.au Dr. Oxlad Ph: 8313 6411 Thank you for your interest. |
Participants required: People who identify as LGBTQIA+ who have experienced pregnancy loss more than 6 months and less than 10 years ago
LGBTQI+ Experiences of Pregnancy Loss: Perceptions of Formal and Informal Support and the Impact on Mental Health
Listed 3rd March, 2020
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We are seeking participants to take part in a research study exploring LGBTQIA+ experiences of support (formal and informal) following pregnancy loss. Interviews seek to understand how such support impacts on mental health and how health professionals can better support LGBTQIA+ identifying individuals.
The findings will be shared with service providers and support organisations to aid in understanding the needs of individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+ who experience pregnancy loss so supports can be more appropriately targeted in the future. As a participant in this study, you will be asked to take part in an interview with the researcher, at your convenience, to describe your experiences of pregnancy loss. Your participation would involve one session, lasting approximately one hour. All data will be de-identified prior to analysis and publication. |
To be eligible, you must identify as LGBTQIA+, and have experienced pregnancy loss more than 6 months and less than 10 years ago. This includes many types of pregnancy loss such as miscarriage, stillbirth, the loss of a pregnancy being carried by your surrogate, and medically-indicated termination of pregnancy. We are interested in speaking with the person who carried a pregnancy and/or partners of the person who carried a pregnancy, and/or people who have sought to become parents through the use of a surrogate.
For more information about this study, or to volunteer, please contact: Alice Rose from the School of Psychology at Email: alice.rose@student.adelaide.edu.au or Dr Oxlad Email: melissa.oxlad@adelaide.edu.au |
Participants required: First-time mothers 10-14 months postpartum with or without a diagnosis of postnatal depression
Neural adaptations of the postpartum year (NAPPY)
Listed 11th November, 2019 |
This study aims to understand how the brain changes in the transition to motherhood. We are also investigating how structural and functional brain changes affect cognition and mood in the postpartum.
If you choose to participate we will ask you a series of questions about yourself, you will complete a series of cognitive tasks, and a 20 minute MRI scan. Participation takes 2hrs in total at Monash University in Clayton. |
For more information or to get involved, please send an email to Winnie at nappy.study@monash.edu
Thank-you for your interest in this research, and for helping us find out more about maternal brains! Feel free to share with any other mothers who may be interested in supporting this research. Winnie Orchard |
Participants required: Women currently trying to conceive, experiencing fertility difficulties
Fertility Quality of Life Questionnaire
Listed 5th June, 2019 |
Are you currently trying to conceive but having fertility difficulties? This can be a particularly challenging and emotional time. This research is exploring the impact that fertility issues have on Australian's women's quality of life whilst trying to conceive. Our hope is that we can use this information to develop ways to better support people whilst on their fertility journey.
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If this sounds like you, and you'd be willing to share your first hand experience, by participating in a short online, anonymous questionnaire, please follow this link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7T2JMLK Support contacts are included at the beginning and end of survey. Best wishes for your fertility journey, thank you for your time and 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
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
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: Parents with personal experience of perinatal OCD, and clinicians/researchers with expertise in perinatal OCD
Perinatal Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Study
Listed 16th August, 2017 |
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 |
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
Are postnatal experiences different for first-time and experienced mothers?
Listed 22nd June 2017 |
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)
How do infant feeding attitudes change from pregnancy to the postpartum period?
Listed 9th December 2016 |
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 who are 8-15 weeks pregnant at the start of the study (now)
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
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
Experiences of Pregnancy and the Year After Birth
Listed 16th May 2016 |
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 |
Completed studies
Participants required: You need to have given birth to your child within the past two years, and be aged 18 years or
over
over
The MotherCare Project
STUDY CLOSED
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The MotherCare project was an initiative of researchers at The University of Queensland. Their aim was 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.
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Participants required: Women, partners and family members affected by miscarriage more than 3 months ago but within 2 years
Interviews for a study on improving miscarriage support
STUDY CLOSED
Listed 29th February, 2020 |
Have you been affected by miscarriage? Women, partners and family members affected by miscarriage more than 3 months ago but within the last 2 years are invited to participate in a research study to understand how to best support those affected by miscarriage.
This research follows several studies on women’s and men’s experiences of miscarriage by our research team, with the ultimate goal of ending the silence around miscarriage. You can talk confidentially with researchers in an interview in person or by phone, or take part in a small group discussion. |
For more information or to express interest, please contact
miscarriage-australia@unimelb.edu.au or text Alice on 0417 011 087. Alternatively, visit our Facebook page at facebook.com/miscarriageaustralia for more information about our previous research and our team. Thanks for your interest Alice Yu |
Participants required: Women who have a baby 12 months old or younger (with or without a diagnosis of postnatal depression)
Baby & Body Study
STUDY CLOSED
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The purpose of this study was 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.
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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.
pregnant with either first or later-born child.
Investigating psychosocial factors and their impact on eating behaviours during pregnancy and the postpartum
STUDY CLOSED
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The aim of this study was 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 involved 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). |
Participants required: Australian, New Zealand, UK, and USA clinicians who work with new/expecting parents
Professional knowledge and practice in perinatal mental health
STUDY CLOSED
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This study surveyed doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals from Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the USA who had worked with new/expecting parents to investigate professional knowledge and practice in perinatal mental health. 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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Participants required: Women who have given birth within the last 12 months
You and your body after baby
STUDY CLOSED
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This project aimed to explore how women view themselves and their bodies in the first 12 months following birth.
Please share with any other mothers who may be interested in supporting this research being run through the Australian Catholic University. |
Participants required: Women who can say "yes"to the following 5 questions:
1. Are you feeling depressed or stressed?
2. Are you a pregnant Mum or do you have a baby 2-6 months old?
3. Has a doctor ever said you are or might be depressed?
4. Does your partner work Fly-In Fly-Out (FIFO)?
5. Are you over 18?
2. Are you a pregnant Mum or do you have a baby 2-6 months old?
3. Has a doctor ever said you are or might be depressed?
4. Does your partner work Fly-In Fly-Out (FIFO)?
5. Are you over 18?
STUDY CLOSED
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 can say "yes" to the following questions:
1. Are you feeling depressed or stressed?
2. Are you a pregnant Mum or do you have a baby 2-6 months old?
3. Has a doctor ever said you are or might be depressed?
4. Does your partner work Fly-In Fly-Out (FIFO)?
5. Are you over 18?
2. Are you a pregnant Mum or do you have a baby 2-6 months old?
3. Has a doctor ever said you are or might be depressed?
4. Does your partner work Fly-In Fly-Out (FIFO)?
5. Are you over 18?
STUDY CLOSED
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: Australian men who have experienced pregnancy loss or the death of a baby within 28 days after birth
Australian men's grief following pregnancy loss and neonatal loss
STUDY CLOSED
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Researchers from the University of Adelaide conducted research to better understand men’s grief following pregnancy loss and neonatal loss. The results may help to inform future support services for men and bereavement care guidelines in Australia.
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