Pregnancy and the postpartum experiences represent transformative stages
of a woman’s life that, in some cases, are accompanied by mental health
challenges. In the transition from pregnancy to postpartum, the focus shifts
from the mother to the baby, potentially leaving the woman to feel alone and
overlooked in navigating the complex emotional and physical challenges of
recovering from childbirth and caring for a small human. In this study, we
argue that the mental health and well-being of a pregnant or postpartum
woman is shaped by the level and type of supportive relationships they have
(i.e, interpersonal versus healthcare provider) because such supportive
relationships promote psychological energy required for their task. Using
data from the 2025 Pregnancy Journey Survey, this study examines the
association between having supportive interpersonal and healthcare
provider relationships and the woman’s mental health, and whether these
associations are mediated by the satisfaction of their basic psychological
needs for competence, autonomy, and belonging

Accepted Oral Presentation