A Qualitative Study of Psychologists in Perinatal Healthcare: Perspectives on Interprofessional Collaboration and Biopsychosocial Patient Care

Over the past several decades, mental health providers have become an integral part of interprofessional healthcare settings. Perinatal healthcare, or the health services provided to individuals during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum, are one of the many settings in which psychologists are now embedded. Through interviews with psychologists in this field, this qualitative study gives the perspective of perinatal psychologists on patient care within three topics, a) harmful cultural beliefs around pregnancy and parenting, b) bias and discrimination towards patients with marginalized identities, and c) perinatal healthcare disparities related to psychosocial and environmental issues. Interviews explored the relationships between psychologist participants and non-psychology healthcare providers, such as whether psychologists felt that these providers had adequate training in mental healthcare and the impact that had on patient care. This study also examined how perinatal psychologists can help mitigate healthcare disparities caused by bias and discrimination. Examples of this included educating other providers, advocating on behalf of their patients and helping patients advocate for themselves, reflecting on their own biases, and helping to create systemic changes in their work settings that protect patients from discrimination.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Clinical Psychology (UMKC)

Grantor

University of Missouri--Kansas City

Year dc:date.issued

2023

Author dc:creator

• Stratmann, Sally

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Nilsson, Johanna E.

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10355/96228

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:mospace.umsystem.edu:10355/96228