Exploring how postpartum depression affects Black mothers and their infants' emotional development.
Official title: Understanding the Intergenerational Transmission of Risk in Black Mother-Infant Dyads: Postpartum Depression, Physiological Synchrony, and Infant Regulatory Development
Funded at State University of New York at Albany · NIH-10997476 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how postpartum depression affects Black mothers and their babies, exploring how a mother's feelings can impact her baby's emotional growth and responses, while also considering the challenges they face, like racial discrimination.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of New York at Albany NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albany, United States) |
| Project start | July 29, 2024 |
| Project end | July 28, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $34,436 |
| NIH project number | 1F31HD114472-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10997476 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are Black mothers in the postpartum period who may be experiencing depressive symptoms and their infants.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not Black or who are not in the postpartum period may not receive benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of postpartum depression on Black mothers and their infants, focusing on how these mothers' emotional states influence their infants' ability to regulate emotions and physiological responses. The study will analyze mother-infant interactions to understand the synchronization of their physiological states and how this affects the infants' emotional development. By examining factors such as racial discrimination and collective coping, the research aims to identify both risks and protective factors that influence these dynamics. The study will involve a sample of 120 participants drawn from a larger longitudinal study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved support strategies for Black mothers experiencing postpartum depression, ultimately enhancing their infants' emotional and regulatory development.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that maternal mental health significantly affects child development, indicating that this approach has potential for meaningful insights.
Where this research is happening
-
State University of New York at Albany
Albany, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Armah, Annabelle — State University of New York at Albany
- Study coordinator: Armah, Annabelle
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A large NIH grant is studying how extending Medicaid after birth and mandating postpartum depression screening affect care for women with gestational diabetes and pregnancy-related high blood pressure.
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.