Research Fellow

Karen has a background in psychology and applied statistics. Her recent research projects have focused on psychosocial determinants of women’s and men’s postnatal mental health; dyadic analysis of couple mental health following the birth of first infant; prenatal genetic screening in pregnant adolescents; antenatal attachment in pregnant adolescents and the effects of maternal age and ART conception on women’s pregnancy adjustment, birth experience and postnatal mental health. Her interests include perinatal anxiety in the context of the mother-father-infant triad, maternal fetal attachment and psychosocial consequences of infertility.

2011 Publications

McMahon C, Boivin J, Gibson F, Fisher J, Hammarberg K, Wynter K, Saunders D. Older first time mothers and early postpartum depression: A prospective cohort study of women conceiving spontaneously or with assisted reproductive technologies. Fertility and Sterility, 2011; 95:5, 1218-1224

McMahon C, Boivin J, Gibson F, Hammarberg K, Wynter K, Saunders D, Fisher J. Age at first birth, mode of conception and psychological wellbeing in pregnancy: Findings from the Parental Age and Transition to Parenthood Australia (PATPA) Study. Human Reproduction 2011; 26(6): 1389–1398.

Hammarberg K, Fisher JRW, Wynter KH, Rowe HJ. Breastfeeding after assisted conception: A prospective cohort study. Acta Paediatrica Scandinavica 2011; 100: 529-533. doi:10.1111/j.1651-2227.2010.02095.x.

Wynter K, Rowe H, Steele A, Fisher J, Quinlivan J. Are adolescents' decisions about prenatal screening for Down Syndrome Informed? A controlled, prospective study. Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology 2011; 24 (1): 29-34.

2010 Publications

Fisher JRW, Wynter K, Rowe HJ. Innovative psycho-educational program to prevent common postpartum mental disorders in primiparous women: a before and after controlled study. BMC Public Health 2010, 10: 432 

Content updated 24 February 2012