Mercy University, a member of the Maternal Health Research Collaborative, is pleased to announce the publication of peer-reviewed research examining mental health during pregnancy.
Depression, anxiety, and related conditions are among the most common — and most undertreated — complications of pregnancy, particularly in historically underserved communities. Addressing this requires understanding the cultural contexts in which women experience motherhood.
Our latest research, published in Frontiers in Psychiatry, proposes that the relationship between parenting self-efficacy and maternal mental health is shaped by a woman’s cultural lens — her perceptions of the maternal role — and her cultural context, including family support and community resources. We apply this framework to the experiences of Hispanic/Latina women in the United States, informed by a scoping review of the literature.
We invite researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and advocates to engage with these findings and the broader conversation they are designed to advance.
Citation: Sanchez, K, Wiley, P., Nicholson, J., Brooks, K., Seruya, F., & Trenz, R. (under review). Parenting self-efficacy and maternal mental health: The implications of cultural considerations for family-focused practice. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 16:1704371. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1704371
