Department of Nutrition Student Projects

Copyright Statement

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Submission Date

1-2-2025

Document Type

Capstone

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition (BSHN)

First Mentor

Annie Lin, D.C.N., CNS, LDN, IFMCP

Keywords

maternal mental health, perinatal mood disorders, diet quality, nutrition knowledge, social determinants, health literacy, psychosocial stress

Abstract

Postpartum mental health is a critical, yet both clinically and socially underrecognized, component of maternal care. Postpartum depression (PPD) affects up to 1 in 7 mothers and significantly impacts both maternal and family well-being. The Postpartum Wellness Survey (PWS) was developed to assess the interconnected relationships among dietary quality and nutrition knowledge, postpartum mood and emotional health, and social determinants of health (SDOH). Twenty-four participants within 12 months of delivery completed the survey, which integrated validated psychological and dietary assessment tools to capture community-level patterns in postpartum wellness. Composite scores across three PWS domains – Postpartum Mood and Emotional Health, Dietary Quality and Nutrition Knowledge, and Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) – were generated to evaluate individual-level functional risk. Higher composite scores, indicative of poor dietary quality, limited nutrition knowledge, and elevated psychosocial stress, illustrated a pattern where suboptimal nutrition and depressed mood reinforced each other, with psychosocial stressors further exacerbating this cycle. Seven participants with the highest scores were identified as most at risk and strong candidates for targeted interventions, including structured meal planning, reducing reliance on processed foods, increasing access to nutrition counseling and postpartum nutrition resources, and using digital nutrition tracking tools to enhance dietary consistency, self-regulation, and behavioral activation. At the community level, results highlighted systemic fragmentation and informational gaps. This emphasizes the potential value of culturally tailored peer-led programs, collaborative meal planning, and social support networks to enhance nutrition efficacy. Together, these findings support the need to integrate individualized nutrition strategies with community-based interventions to address psychosocial, dietary, and structural challenges, thereby promoting maternal resilience and overall postpartum wellness. Future research will expand the PWS into a longitudinal pilot study monitoring mothers across the first postpartum year and incorporating biomarker measures (e.g., vitamin D and omega-3 indices) to examine physiological mechanisms linking nutrition and mood. Insights from this work may inform integrated postpartum care models and guide policy efforts to embed nutrition and mental health screening into routine maternal health services.

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