Hey there! We’re the What2Expect Study Team.
Our team is committed to research to improving our understanding, prevention, and treatment of mental health during pregnancy, postpartum, and parenthood.
Interested in contributing to a research study on perinatal mental health? Learn more about our research and see if you may be able to participate below!
You are welcome to express interest in one or more of our studies. We are currently recruiting for 1 research study.
The PEMA Study
UNC IRB #22-2112
Why are we doing the study? As many as 1 in 3 parents will experience mental health challenges during pregnancy and postpartum. While research has often focused on pregnant and postpartum women, perinatal mental health challenges affect individuals of all identities and backgrounds. It is important to our research team that we better under how individuals–and families–want to their mental health and wellbeing supported during pregnancy and postpartum.
What’s the study about? Smartphones may help us identify individuals who need support during the perinatal period and increase access to mental health services in “real-time”–when parents need it. This research study is looking at what people think about using smartphone-based mental health tools during pregnancy and postpartum. Our findings will help researchers and providers better understand how mobile apps might be used to support perinatal mental health, and can help us design mobile mental health tools that are tailored to the needs of pregnant and postpartum individuals.
What’s involved in the study? Participants will be asked to watch a brief video on mobile mental health assessment and then asked to complete an online survey. The survey will ask about your opinions about mobile mental health tools, and about your mental health and reproductive health history. We expect the survey will take about 30 minutes to complete.
If you’d like, you can meet with a research team member for feedback on your responses to the mental health surveys.
Who can participate? You may be able to participate if you or your partner are currently pregnant or if you have had a baby in the past year.
Will I receive anything if I participate? Participants who complete the online survey will receive a $10 gift card.
How can I participate? The first step is to complete a brief online form to see if you are eligible using this secure link: go.unc.edu/pma.
Have questions about our research?
Contact the study team by email at what2expect@unc.edu.
Have questions about your rights as a research participant? Contact the UNC Institutional Review Board (IRB) at 919-966-3113.