Big Ideas, Real Impact.
Dr. Angela Neal Barnett is a Kent State University professor and the director of PRADAA, a research program focused on anxiety and stress related conditions among African Americans. Her work centers on how anxiety, stress, and trauma shape the lives of Black women and girls, with a specific focus on culturally grounded approaches that improve emotional well being during pregnancy and postpartum.
Dr. Neal-Barnett is a leading scholar on anxiety in Black communities, with research spanning Black women and girls, culturally grounded supports, and perinatal mental health interventions.
Maternal Mental Health Publications by Dr. Neal Barnett
• Neal-Barnett, A., Stadulis, R., Ayoade, E., McGhee-Dinvaut, A. (2024). A pilot study exploring the feasibility of virtual Written Exposure Therapy in a Black perinatal population. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities.
• Somerville, K., Rowell, T., Stadulis, R., Bell, D., Neal-Barnett, A. (2023). An evaluation of the feasibility and acceptability of sister circles as an anxiety intervention for pregnant Black women (Birthing Beautiful Babies Sisters Offering Support, includes postpartum focus in the paper). Women’s Health.
• Somerville, K., Neal-Barnett, A., Stadulis, R., et al. (2020). Hair Cortisol Concentration and Perceived Chronic Stress in Low-Income Urban Pregnant and Postpartum Black Women. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities.
• Manns-James, L., Neal-Barnett, A. M. (2019). Development of a culturally informed protocol for hair cortisol sampling in Black women. Public Health Nursing.
Research Evidence on the Value of Perinatal Education
• Hooper, E., Mechkaroff, O., Upitis, A., Schofield, E., Carland, J. E., Henry, A. (2025). The effectiveness of antenatal education on improving labour and birth outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Women and Birth. Key finding: antenatal education was linked with improved birth outcomes, including lower planned cesarean rates and higher vaginal birth rates in randomized trial evidence.
• Zaman, A., Fadlalmola, H. A., Ibrahem, S. E., et al. (2025). The role of antenatal education on maternal self-efficacy, fear of childbirth, and birth outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. European Journal of Midwifery. Key finding: education increased childbirth self-efficacy and reduced fear of childbirth, with some evidence of improved birth outcomes.
• Ickovics, J. R., Kershaw, T. S., Westdahl, C., et al. (2007). Group prenatal care and perinatal outcomes: A randomized controlled trial. Obstetrics and Gynecology. Key finding: the group prenatal care model, which includes structured education and peer support, showed benefits that included fewer preterm births and higher breastfeeding initiation.
• Wang, X., Xu, H., Liu, X., Yan, J., Chen, C., Li, Y. (2023). Evaluating the effect of psychoeducational interventions on prenatal attachment and anxiety and depression in pregnant women and partners: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders. Key finding: psychoeducation improved prenatal attachment and reduced anxiety, with evidence also supporting reductions in depression in included trials.
• Tessema, M., Abera, M., Birhanu, Z. (2024). Effectiveness of group based psycho education on preventing postpartum depression among pregnant women: A cluster randomized controlled trial. Frontiers in Psychiatry. Key finding: group psychoeducation during pregnancy reduced postpartum depression at early postpartum follow up.
• Effect of antenatal education on fear of childbirth, mental health, and perceived stress in primigravid pregnant women: A prospective randomized controlled trial. (2025). BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. Key finding: antenatal education reduced fear of childbirth and perceived stress, and improved mental well being through early postpartum.
• Kehinde, J., O’Donnell, C., Grealish, A. (2023). The effectiveness of prenatal breastfeeding education on breastfeeding uptake postpartum: A systematic review. Midwifery. Key finding: prenatal breastfeeding education improved breastfeeding knowledge and self efficacy, and was associated with higher breastfeeding uptake in multiple studies.
• Cochrane evidence summary, via WHO eLENA. Antenatal breastfeeding education for increasing breastfeeding duration. Key finding: added education shows mixed effects when standard care already includes breastfeeding education, though some multi component approaches show improvement.