Stephanie Hanson, an assistant professor at South Dakota State University, showcased her research at the International Marcé Society Conference in Barcelona, Spain. This annual conference focuses on perinatal mental health, gathering top researchers from around the world to discuss postpartum mental disorders.
Hanson’s poster, titled “Understanding Perinatal Mental Health through an Empowerment Lens,” highlighted her findings on the empowerment and disempowerment experienced by mothers. Through focus group sessions, she created two “word clouds” reflecting participants’ feelings about their pregnancies and their views on what a “typical” pregnancy entails.
A significant theme emerged from her research: many women reported feeling a lack of choice and control during their pregnancies. Hanson noted, “Research has not yet thoroughly explored the connections between empowerment, disempowerment, and perinatal mental health disorders, which is my main area of interest.”
She believes there is a critical link between women’s empowerment and the development of perinatal mental health issues. “For those who have experienced these disorders, the relationship is very pronounced, yet few studies delve into these complexities,” she explained.
Hanson is the first researcher to apply empowerment theory to women’s experiences with pregnancy and perinatal mental health. Empowerment theory, developed by Marc A. Zimmerman in the 1990s, examines how individuals exert control over decisions that impact their lives and communities.
Hanson received positive feedback for her presentation at the conference. “It was validating to hear that others found my findings interesting and see potential in my future research,” she said.
Her work is part of a larger initiative called BIRTH-SD-AIM (Bridging Information and Resources to Transform Health for South Dakota Parents – Assessing Need and Implementing Maternal Health Safety Bundles). This project aims to enhance perinatal health outcomes in South Dakota by collaborating with local hospitals to address issues related to perinatal substance use disorder and mental health.
Hanson leads all projects under the BIRTH-SD umbrella and serves as the executive director of the newly established South Dakota Perinatal Quality Collaborative.
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