PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] – Postpartum depression is one of the most common complications of childbirth worldwide. Roughly one in five new mothers experience depression in the first year after birth. Despite its prevalence, very little research in anthropology has examined the experiences of postpartum women living with depression or other mental illnesses. PSTC Associate and Assistant Professor of Anthropology Katherine Mason is leading a study to expand understanding of postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, and ultimately improve care for new mothers at risk.

“The postpartum period is a major life transition that most women go through, often multiple times. Suddenly this baby that had only existed inside their bodies as kicks or images on a screen becomes a new family member that must be integrated into their lives. That is a very complicated adjustment for many women and families. And it is an adjustment that mothers must make while they are still recovering from childbirth, which, for those who have had C-sections, involves major abdominal surgery. For so many women, it is an extremely difficult time emotionally, and very few are getting the help they need. What I hope to do with this project is really shed light on what is going on in women’s homes during this sensitive period, so that we can better understand how best to prevent and treat mental health complications,” Mason said.

In preparation for her fieldwork, Mason became a certified postpartum doula and obtained a certificate in maternal mental health. She also conducted preliminary interviews with families in the Providence area and in China, which has been an area of focus in her past research. In July 2020, she will begin working with dozens of families throughout Rhode Island to understand their experiences at home during the postpartum period. Her work is the first ethnographic study of family interactions in the home during the postpartum period, and will bridge a gap between the anthropology of reproduction and mental illness.