What is involved?

Participation in this study involves:

• Completing two online surveys, each taking approximately 20 minutes. These surveys will ask you questions about you and your family, your birth and breastfeeding experiences, and a whole range of thoughts and feelings you may have experienced as a new mum.
• You will complete the first survey immediately. You will be emailed a link to the second survey in 8 weeks’ time.
• After completing the first survey, you have a 50/50 chance of being given access to a package of online resources intended to support your psychological wellbeing. The package includes a brief information video, a guided exercise and a tip sheet. All of the materials are focused on developing a different understanding of yourself as well as a different understanding your relationship with your baby, and they are grounded in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).
• If you are not allocated to receive this information package straight away, then you will be provided with access once you have completed the final survey (in 8 weeks’ time). This will allow us to determine whether or not the package is beneficial.

Risks

Participation in this study should involve no physical or mental discomfort, and no risks beyond those of everyday living. If, however, should you find any question or procedure to be invasive or offensive, you are free to omit answering or participating in that aspect of the study. We recognise that pregnancy and childbirth can be sensitive and emotional topics for some women. If you experience an emotional response to completing the surveys, support can be sought through your local GP or child health clinic, Lifeline (13 11 14), BeyondBlue (1300 22 4636), the Australian Breastfeeding Association Helpline (1800 686 268), Pregnancy Loss Australia (www.pregnancylossaustralia.org.au), or Sands (1300 072 637) as appropriate.

Are there any benefits to participating?

By participating you will receive free-of-cost information and guided activities intended to promote your wellbeing. Those participants randomised to receive the information package immediately will also receive a series of SMS and email reminders and tips to help you make the most of the resources and to prompt you to complete the second survey.

Will my participation benefit others?

Yes! If the information package is shown to be helpful, then we will develop the materials further and find ways to reach out to more women who could benefit from this type of information.

Can I access the results of this study?

If you are interested in knowing the results of this study, please contact Dr Koa Whittingham at koawhittingham@uq.edu.au after January 2026 to request this information.

Confidentiality and Security of data

We will ask you to provide your email address and mobile phone number before you start the first survey so we can contact you by email and SMS to complete your follow-up survey. In addition, if you are randomly assigned to receive the information package straight away then we may also send you up to five SMS and email reminders and tips to help you make the most of the resources. Your email address and mobile number will be collected and stored separately from your survey data. Your email address and mobile phone number will be permanently deleted from our records at the end of the study and will not be used for any other purpose. You will not be asked to provide your name or any other identifying information. The study personnel will not reveal your identity at any time. All data collected in this study will be stored confidentially for a period of seven years and then deleted. Only members of the research team will have access to identified data. All data will be coded in a de-identified manner and subsequently analysed and reported in such a way that responses will not be able to be linked to any individual. The data you provide will only be used for the specific research purposes of this study. It is anticipated that the results of this research project will be published and/or presented in academic journals and at professional conferences. In any publication and/or presentation, information will be provided in such a way that you cannot be identified.

Ethics clearance and contacts

This study adheres to the guidelines of the ethical review processes of the University of Queensland and the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research. Whilst you are free to discuss your participation in this study with the lead investigator (Dr Koa Whittingham at koawhittingham@uq.edu.au), if you would like to speak to an officer of the University not involved in the study, you may contact the Ethics Coordinators on +617 3365 3924 / +617 3443 1656 or e-mail: humanethics@research.uq.edu.au.

This research Ethics ID number: 2024/HE002494.

Thank you for your participation in this study.

Dr Koa Whittingham
 
 

Dr Amy Mitchell
Registered Nurse
 

Kristy Nicholls
Honours Scholar in Psychology
The University of Queensland

For more information, contact: