A Webinar Series on Role Transitions and Maternal Mental Health for Black and African American Women
Document Type
Dissertation
Publication Date
4-23-2025
Abstract
Date: 04/23/2025
Student Name: Italia Whetstone
Capstone Project Title: A Webinar Series on Role Transitions and Maternal Mental Health for Black and African American Women
Capstone Faculty Advisor: Dr. Sylvia Anderson, DHEd, MBA, OTR/L
Abstract:
There are several transitions that we experience throughout life as we grow and evolve as individuals. Experiencing transition can significantly impact an individual’s occupational performance depending on how well they are able to adjust and cope during their transitional period. “As much as these “occupations”, as we call them, seem to be built into the fabric of our daily life, they actually require many physical and mental aspects to be in place to be completed. When a part of someone’s life changes, so does their ability to complete these activities. Occupational therapists are able to analyze, modify, and adapt all aspects of occupations so they can be executed easily and efficiently.” (Firn, 2021). One of the major life transitions for women and/or birthing people includes the transition into parenthood and/or motherhood. This transition into motherhood presents unique challenges for Black and African American women, who often face increased stressors due to systemic inequities, cultural expectations, and limited access to maternal mental health resources. Based on socioeconomic status, race, age, and other identifying factors, the health disparities amongst individuals in communities that lack resources and education is exacerbated and continues to expand the gap in access to equitable health (Nijou, et. al, …) During the role transitions into motherhood “...it requires the provision of newborn care, physical limitations after surgery, and the associated mental health changes.” (Rich and Skuthan, 2025). Black women are disproportionately affected by maternal health issues, including but not limited to Baby Blues, PPD, increased anxiety, and increased stress. Black women are 2.6 times as likely to develop these issues when compared to their white counterparts (Estriplet, et. al, 2022). Occupational therapy (OT) plays a critical role in addressing these disparities by promoting maternal well-being through meaningful activities, self-care strategies, and community support. This project aims to explore the intersection of maternal mental health, potential role transition impacts, and the potential role that OT can play a role in fostering positive transitions into motherhood for Black and African American women.
Recommended Citation
Whetstone, Italia and Anderson, Sylvia, "A Webinar Series on Role Transitions and Maternal Mental Health for Black and African American Women" (2025). Howard University, Department of Occupational Therapy Capstone and Faculty Research. 1.
https://dh.howard.edu/huotresearch/1
