Doula support to improve mood and anxiety health for rural mothers
Official title: Addressing Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMAD) through a Doula Intervention
Funded at University of Montana · NIH-11632168 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A rural-focused program tests whether birth doulas can boost confidence, support, and maternal health for new mothers with mood and anxiety concerns.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Montana NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Missoula, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $111,795 |
| NIH project number | 5P20GM130418-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11632168 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant individuals or those within the perinatal period in rural settings who experience mood or anxiety-related concerns and are interested in doula-supported care.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals in urban settings or without PMAD symptoms may not directly benefit, and outcomes could vary by local resources.
What this research studies
This grant explores how birth doulas can help pregnant and new mothers in rural areas manage perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. It plans to develop a doula-led intervention and pilot it to see if self-efficacy and support improve maternal and child health outcomes. The study will use community-based approaches and input from affected communities, combining qualitative insights with a small pilot dataset. Findings could guide scalable, people-centered strategies to reduce PMAD impacts in underserved rural populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, rural mothers may experience better mood, stronger support systems, and improved health for themselves and their children.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests doula support can improve maternal satisfaction and certain health outcomes, but this project tests a specific rural-focused intervention with PMADs.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Montana
Missoula, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liddell, Jessica — University of Montana
- Study coordinator: Liddell, Jessica
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.