The application of psychological methods, models and theories to the understanding of health in the pregnancy and postpartum period: A review of a BPS funded seminar series

Abstract

Health psychology expertise has the potential to help and support pregnant women engage in positive health behaviours. However, this expertise is rarely implemented in standard antenatal care. In a bid to address the lack of health psychology application and expertise in this area, Dr Debbie Smith (The University of Manchester) and Dr Ellinor Olander (City University London) were awarded a research seminar grant from the British Psychological Society (BPS), allowing academics and health professionals interested in the area of maternal health psychology to meet and identify how health psychology can be implemented and developed for this population. This paper will provide a review of three BPS-funded seminars which were held over the course of 2014. The specific view point of two postgraduate students will be presented, outlining the experiences and benefits of involvement in the group.