Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PACMUM (Pregnancy- and Childbirth-Related Media Use to Support Maternal Mental Health)
Reporting period: 2022-11-01 to 2024-10-31
Studies show that up to one in three pregnant women suffer from pregnancy-related anxiety, or excessive worry, distress or fear concerning pregnancy, fetal health, birth and labor, and the postpartum period. This is related to costly adverse pregnancy outcomes with long-lasting consequences, such as pre-term births and postpartum depression. Pregnant women increasingly use the internet and social media to seek information regarding pregnancy and childbirth, and many care providers are worried about the impact of digital media use on their clients’ mental wellbeing. Yet, the actual impact of online media use in pregnancy is rarely studied. The goal of this project is to understand the impact of video-based digital media platforms such as YouTube on pregnancy-related anxiety. YouTube can play a unique role in women’s health because of its attractive, engaging and easily understandable audiovisual presentation of information, and mix of healthcare professionals and regular users sharing their personal experiences and educational information. Moreover, YouTube is the most widely used social medium, as 95% of 18-49-year-olds use it.
To understand the role of YouTube in pregnancy-related anxiety, this project is centered around two research objectives. The first objective is to understand how pregnancy- and childbirth-related content on YouTube can fulfill different needs for women with pregnancy-related anxiety. To understand how exposure to pregnancy- and childbirth-related content can affect PRA, we need to start by improving our understanding of how different types of pregnancy- and childbirth-related YouTube content address different needs of these mentally vulnerable women. The second objective is to elucidate the underlying processes of the association between exposure to pregnancy- and childbirth-related content and pregnancy-related anxiety. To improve our understanding of how exposure to health information on YouTube can play a role in maternal mental health, it is important to study which underlying mechanisms explain how exposure to pregnancy- and childbirth-related information affects pregnancy-related anxiety.
To understand the role of YouTube in pregnancy-related anxiety, this project is centered around two research objectives. The first objective is to understand how pregnancy- and childbirth-related content on YouTube can fulfill different needs for women with pregnancy-related anxiety. To understand how exposure to pregnancy- and childbirth-related content can affect PRA, we need to start by improving our understanding of how different types of pregnancy- and childbirth-related YouTube content address different needs of these mentally vulnerable women. The second objective is to elucidate the underlying processes of the association between exposure to pregnancy- and childbirth-related content and pregnancy-related anxiety. To improve our understanding of how exposure to health information on YouTube can play a role in maternal mental health, it is important to study which underlying mechanisms explain how exposure to pregnancy- and childbirth-related information affects pregnancy-related anxiety.
The scientific work centers around two work packages: interviews with women with high levels of pregnancy-related anxiety, and a longitudinal panel study among all pregnant women. Data collection for both studies is ongoing and additional funding has been obtained to finish the data collections within the next 12 months. Partial data has already been used to write two manuscripts (see: Results beyond the state of the art for more details on the manuscripts). In addition, three content analyses have been conducted to have a better understanding of the pregnancy- and childbirth related content women can be exposed to in video-based platforms, resulting in three additional manuscripts (see: Results beyond the state of the art for more details).
Six peer-reviewed papers have been submitted, with three already accepted or published and three currently under review. These publications address critical questions in maternal mental health and the impact of digital media on pregnancy-related experiences. Two papers are based on the main dataset from the cohort study: the first explores how different information sources—such as online platforms, healthcare providers, offline social networks, and (e)books—affect pregnancy-related anxiety trajectories throughout pregnancy and has been accepted for publication in the European Journal of Midwifery. The second examines the comparative influence of “mommy influencers” and “medical influencers” on YouTube on fear of birth and is currently under review.
In addition to these cohort-based studies, I supervised a methodological paper that evaluates dropout data from our study, focusing on improving digital tools for data collection in maternal mental health research. This paper is also under review.
Three content analysis studies further explore online pregnancy and childbirth-related information. One paper, published in BJOG, analyzes YouTube stillbirth stories to provide insights for improving obstetric care. Another study assesses the evidence-based nature of nausea and vomiting management recommendations shared on YouTube and is currently under review. Additionally, a master’s thesis I supervised, which investigated misinformation about contraceptive pills on TikTok, is being developed into a manuscript.
Finally, I conducted secondary analyses of RCT data collected by the REALIFE team at KU Leuven. A study published in Health Promotion Perspectives demonstrated that higher adherence to an mHealth intervention effectively reduces postpartum weight retention, adding valuable insights to the growing field of digital health interventions.
These findings underline the significant role that digital media and tools can play in shaping maternal health outcomes. The research not only contributes to academic knowledge but also highlights critical areas for further study and application.
To build on these findings and ensure their broader impact, further efforts are needed in research and demonstration. Longitudinal studies are essential to deepen our understanding of how digital media influences pregnancy-related anxiety and maternal mental health outcomes over time. Additional research is required to explore cultural and demographic variations in these effects, which would inform the development of tailored interventions.
Demonstration efforts are equally crucial. Translating these findings into evidence-based digital tools and piloting them in real-world settings would validate their effectiveness. These tools could be used to support maternal mental health through accessible, scalable platforms, ensuring their relevance and usability across diverse populations.
To advance this work, I have secured funding to continue and expand this line of research over the next four years. A personal postdoctoral fellowship (3 years) will enable me to complete ongoing data collections and initiate additional studies, focusing on the impact of YouTube as a platform for pregnancy and childbirth-related information on pregnancy-related anxiety. This will allow me to build a comprehensive and impactful research program exploring the role of digital media in maternal mental health.
In addition, I am a co-principal investigator in a four-year MSCA doctoral network project that will evaluate the effectiveness of a digital tool designed to enhance maternal mental and physical well-being. To further maximize the impact of this research, I plan to submit additional funding proposals to recruit PhD students and deepen investigations into the effects of digital media on pregnancy-related mental health outcomes.
Through these efforts, this research agenda aims to address critical gaps in maternal health, leveraging digital innovation to create scalable, evidence-based solutions that improve well-being during and after pregnancy.
The following papers have been published:
- Geusens, F. & Skalkidou, A. (Accepted). A two-wave survey study examining the impact of different sources of pregnancy information on pregnancy-related anxiety. European Journal of Midwifery.
- Geusens, F., Bogaerts, A., & Skalkidou, A. (2024). “I had to educate myself”: A thematic analysis of online stillbirth stories to improve obstetric care. BJOG - An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 131(8), 1120-1128. https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.17750(opens in new window)
- Geusens, F., Van Uytsel, H., Ameye, L., Devlieger, R., Jacquemyn, Y., Van Holsbeke, C., & Bogaerts, A. (2024). The impact of self-monitoring physical and mental health via an mHealth application on postpartum weight retention: Data from the INTER-ACT RCT. Health Promotion Perspectives, 14(1), 44-52. https://doi.org/10.34172/hpp.42528(opens in new window)
In addition to these cohort-based studies, I supervised a methodological paper that evaluates dropout data from our study, focusing on improving digital tools for data collection in maternal mental health research. This paper is also under review.
Three content analysis studies further explore online pregnancy and childbirth-related information. One paper, published in BJOG, analyzes YouTube stillbirth stories to provide insights for improving obstetric care. Another study assesses the evidence-based nature of nausea and vomiting management recommendations shared on YouTube and is currently under review. Additionally, a master’s thesis I supervised, which investigated misinformation about contraceptive pills on TikTok, is being developed into a manuscript.
Finally, I conducted secondary analyses of RCT data collected by the REALIFE team at KU Leuven. A study published in Health Promotion Perspectives demonstrated that higher adherence to an mHealth intervention effectively reduces postpartum weight retention, adding valuable insights to the growing field of digital health interventions.
These findings underline the significant role that digital media and tools can play in shaping maternal health outcomes. The research not only contributes to academic knowledge but also highlights critical areas for further study and application.
To build on these findings and ensure their broader impact, further efforts are needed in research and demonstration. Longitudinal studies are essential to deepen our understanding of how digital media influences pregnancy-related anxiety and maternal mental health outcomes over time. Additional research is required to explore cultural and demographic variations in these effects, which would inform the development of tailored interventions.
Demonstration efforts are equally crucial. Translating these findings into evidence-based digital tools and piloting them in real-world settings would validate their effectiveness. These tools could be used to support maternal mental health through accessible, scalable platforms, ensuring their relevance and usability across diverse populations.
To advance this work, I have secured funding to continue and expand this line of research over the next four years. A personal postdoctoral fellowship (3 years) will enable me to complete ongoing data collections and initiate additional studies, focusing on the impact of YouTube as a platform for pregnancy and childbirth-related information on pregnancy-related anxiety. This will allow me to build a comprehensive and impactful research program exploring the role of digital media in maternal mental health.
In addition, I am a co-principal investigator in a four-year MSCA doctoral network project that will evaluate the effectiveness of a digital tool designed to enhance maternal mental and physical well-being. To further maximize the impact of this research, I plan to submit additional funding proposals to recruit PhD students and deepen investigations into the effects of digital media on pregnancy-related mental health outcomes.
Through these efforts, this research agenda aims to address critical gaps in maternal health, leveraging digital innovation to create scalable, evidence-based solutions that improve well-being during and after pregnancy.
The following papers have been published:
- Geusens, F. & Skalkidou, A. (Accepted). A two-wave survey study examining the impact of different sources of pregnancy information on pregnancy-related anxiety. European Journal of Midwifery.
- Geusens, F., Bogaerts, A., & Skalkidou, A. (2024). “I had to educate myself”: A thematic analysis of online stillbirth stories to improve obstetric care. BJOG - An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 131(8), 1120-1128. https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.17750(opens in new window)
- Geusens, F., Van Uytsel, H., Ameye, L., Devlieger, R., Jacquemyn, Y., Van Holsbeke, C., & Bogaerts, A. (2024). The impact of self-monitoring physical and mental health via an mHealth application on postpartum weight retention: Data from the INTER-ACT RCT. Health Promotion Perspectives, 14(1), 44-52. https://doi.org/10.34172/hpp.42528(opens in new window)