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Advances in Maternal and Family Mental Health: Relational, Clinical, and Systemic Approaches Across the Reproductive and Perinatal Spectrum

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 2680

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Pamela A. Geller

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
Interests: clinical and health psychology; stressful life events and mental and physical health outcomes particularly in the area of women's reproductive health
Dr. Victoria Grunberg

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Psychiatry, Center for Health Outcomes and Interdisciplinary Research, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
2. Divison Newborn Medicine, Mass General for Children, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
Interests: mind–body and resiliency interventions for medical populations; families coping with stressful reproductive life events; multidisciplinary and integrative care for medical settings
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue highlights emerging research, clinical innovations, and systemic strategies addressing mental health across the reproductive and perinatal spectrum. We invite submissions that examine maternal and family mental health in the context of infertility, fertility treatment, pregnancy, pregnancy loss, birth trauma, postpartum experiences, and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) hospitalizations.

Recognizing that reproductive and perinatal mental health is relational, we encourage work that includes infants, partners, co-parents, and caregivers; explores attachment, parent–infant interaction, and couple communication; and examines dyadic and family-centered approaches to care. We welcome interdisciplinary research addressing prevention, early identification, intervention, and policy reform.

Sample topics of interest include the following:

  • Psychosocial outcomes related to reproductive health;
  • Screening and diagnostic advancements;
  • Integration of mental health in obstetric, neonatal, and pediatric care;
  • Healthcare professionals’ perspectives and implementation barriers;
  • Behavioral, pharmacological, and community-based interventions;
  • Innovative models (e.g., technology-enabled, culturally tailored, dyadic/triadic);
  • Social determinants and health disparities;
  • Trauma-informed care and adverse experiences;
  • Biopsychosocial, cultural, gender-related, and intergenerational risk/protection.

This Special Issue aims to foster cross-disciplinary dialogue among researchers, clinicians, and policymakers and advocates advancing holistic, equitable, and evidence-informed care. We welcome qualitative, quantitative, mixed-methods, implementation science, reviews, policy commentaries, and community-based work.

Prof. Dr. Pamela A. Geller
Dr. Victoria Grunberg
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • perinatal
  • mental health
  • maternal health
  • infertility
  • pregnancy
  • postpartum
  • birth trauma
  • neonatal intensive care unit
  • reproduction
  • psychosocial

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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9 pages, 438 KB  
Article
Maternal Satisfaction with Perinatal Care and Breastfeeding at 6 Months Postpartum
by Caitlin M. Dressler, Karina M. Shreffler, Ingrid R. Wilhelm, Jameca R. Price and Karen P. Gold
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(8), 1246; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22081246 - 9 Aug 2025
Viewed by 1521
Abstract
Positive childbirth experiences increase breastfeeding in the early postpartum period. Using a diverse, clinic-based sample of predominately low-income women (n = 118) recruited at their first prenatal appointment in 2017–2018 and followed through six months postpartum, binary logistic regression analyses were used to [...] Read more.
Positive childbirth experiences increase breastfeeding in the early postpartum period. Using a diverse, clinic-based sample of predominately low-income women (n = 118) recruited at their first prenatal appointment in 2017–2018 and followed through six months postpartum, binary logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association between maternal satisfaction with perinatal care measured two weeks postpartum and breastfeeding at six months postpartum. Participants reported high satisfaction with perinatal care overall (mean = 25.7; range of 6–30), and 25% of participants reported breastfeeding at six months postpartum. Regression results found that greater satisfaction with perinatal care is associated with higher odds of breastfeeding at six months postpartum (OR = 1.19; p < 0.05), controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. These findings that have important implications for providers as they identify a group at risk for shorter breastfeeding duration: those who are less satisfied with their perinatal care. More research is needed to identify methods providers can use to increase satisfaction with care as well as to successfully encourage and assist mothers with breastfeeding despite challenges that might arise during pregnancy or childbirth that are associated with low satisfaction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Maternal and Family Mental Health: Relational, Clinical, and Systemic Approaches Across the Reproductive and Perinatal Spectrum)
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Review

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17 pages, 1902 KB  
Review
A Scoping Review of Preventive and Treatment Interventions of Parental Psychological Distress in the NICU in the United States
by Kiara A. I. Barnett, Ahnyia Sanders, Rebecca Kyser, Bahar Babagoli, Deepika Goyal and Huynh-Nhu Le
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(10), 1592; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22101592 - 20 Oct 2025
Viewed by 878
Abstract
Parents of premature infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) are at elevated risk of anxiety, depression, stress, and trauma, which may impair bonding and infant development. This scoping review synthesized preventive and treatment interventions designed to reduce parental psychological distress in [...] Read more.
Parents of premature infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) are at elevated risk of anxiety, depression, stress, and trauma, which may impair bonding and infant development. This scoping review synthesized preventive and treatment interventions designed to reduce parental psychological distress in the United States. Guided by PRISMA-ScR, systematic searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO. Eligible studies were those that examined interventions for parents of preterm infants (<37 weeks’ gestation) initiated before, during, or within one year after NICU discharge. Excluded were studies limited to abstracts or qualitative designs; those not addressing parental depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, or stress; and those involving congenital anomalies or conducted outside the United States. Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria, including ten prevention-focused and seven treatment-focused studies. Eight reported significant reductions in distress, with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and the Creating Opportunities for Parent Empowerment (COPE) program showing the strongest evidence. However, most interventions targeted mothers, highlighting underrepresentation of fathers. Overall, findings underscore the need for interventions that address both parents, include diverse populations, and evaluate participant engagement to improve clinical applicability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Maternal and Family Mental Health: Relational, Clinical, and Systemic Approaches Across the Reproductive and Perinatal Spectrum)
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