Promoting Women’s Mental Health

A special issue of Behavioral Sciences (ISSN 2076-328X). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Psychology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 August 2026 | Viewed by 720

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Division of Medical Education, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
Interests: women’s health; ethnic minority health; migrants’ health; faith-based organisation; health education and promotion; public health

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Research into women’s mental health has gained increasing recognition as a critical area of inquiry in public health, yet significant gaps remain in understanding the unique and intersecting influences that shape women’s psychological wellbeing across the life course. Across women’s lifespan, biological processes such as menstruation, pregnancy, menopause, and reproductive health intersect with social determinants of health, resulting in varied responses to societal issues such as gendered role expectations, socioeconomic challenges, and work–life balance. These intersecting factors contribute to differential risks of mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and stress-related illnesses.

Despite growing awareness, women’s mental health remains underrepresented in empirical research and policy, particularly for those from minority, marginalised, and low-resource settings. There is an urgent need to expand evidence on prevention, early identification, and intervention strategies that are culturally sensitive, intersectional, and equity-focused.

We are pleased to invite contributions to this Special Issue, Promoting Women’s Mental Health, that advance theoretical, methodological, and applied knowledge in this domain, and we particularly welcome interdisciplinary scholarship from psychology, sociology, public health, gender studies, and related fields. Methodological diversity is encouraged, including longitudinal studies, narrative and qualitative inquiry, community-based interventions, and pilot or feasibility studies. We are interested in contributions from underrepresented populations and regions, illuminating protective factors and resilience processes, and proposing innovative practices that improve mental health outcomes for women globally.

Dr. Omolade Allen
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • women’s health
  • health promotion
  • mental health
  • public health
  • gender

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

21 pages, 389 KB  
Review
Biopsychosocial Influences on the Gut Microbiome in Women’s Health: Moving Towards Eubiosis
by Ashley J. Blount, Kara Schneider, Abby L. Bjornsen, Thang S. Tran, Gurudutt Pendyala and Tiffany A. Moore
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(5), 627; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16050627 - 22 Apr 2026
Viewed by 302
Abstract
Research on the human microbiome, particularly the gut microbiome, has expanded rapidly as its influence on health and behavior becomes increasingly evident. Once understood primarily in terms of digestion and immune function, the microbiome is now recognized as a key contributor to brain [...] Read more.
Research on the human microbiome, particularly the gut microbiome, has expanded rapidly as its influence on health and behavior becomes increasingly evident. Once understood primarily in terms of digestion and immune function, the microbiome is now recognized as a key contributor to brain function, mood regulation, and social behavior. Emerging evidence links microbial dysbiosis to the onset and persistence of mood disorders, opening new pathways for mental health research and intervention. This paper challenges reductionist biomedical models by advancing a biopsychosocial framework for interpreting health outcomes related to microbiome dynamics. The gut–brain axis illustrates the biological complexity of these interactions, with microbial communities shaping neurodevelopment and neurotransmitter production. Psychologically, alterations in microbial composition have been associated with depression, anxiety, and stress responsivity, while social determinants—including early-life environments, socioeconomic conditions, and relationships—structure microbial variation in ways that may reinforce existing health inequities. Focusing on women’s health, this narrative review examines how microbial states both influence and are shaped by interconnected biological, psychological, and social factors. Interdisciplinary implications of microbiome research for understanding and achieving eubiosis and holistic models care in both research and clinical practice are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promoting Women’s Mental Health)
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