By: Nicole Wright
How do we measure motherhood beyond symptoms and diagnoses? For years, postpartum care has centered on identifying key mood symptoms (i.e., feelings of overwhelm, lack of enjoyment) in new mothers. Dr. Jennifer Barkin, a psychiatric epidemiologist, says additional questions need to be asked: “In addition to mood symptoms, we need to find out how the mother is functioning day to day and support her so she can function optimally and in a way she is proud of in the context of new motherhood. Ideally, healthcare professionals would work with mothers to identify functional deficits and support the mother in achieving optimal daily functioning. Maternal self-care is an often overlooked yet critical part of emotional wellness, and it can (and perhaps should) look different for everyone. Resources play a role here, and not everyone has equal access to them. Yoga and spa treatments are wonderful, but not everyone can afford them. Self-care can, and should, take on many forms.”
Barkin is a professor, inventor/researcher, and the Associate Dean for Research at East Carolina University’s (ECU) College of Health and Human Performance. She developed the Barkin Index of Maternal Functioning (BIMF) during her doctoral studies at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Public Health. The BIMF is a 20-item self-report measure of postpartum maternal functioning that covers seven domains and yields a score from 0 to 120. The measure includes questions such as “I am getting enough adult interaction” and “I make good decisions about my baby’s health and well-being.” It is unique in that it centers the patient’s perspective in defining what a good-functioning day looks like.
Can you describe some transformational moments in your career?
There have been many. One that stands out in terms of the BIMF’s trajectory was its first licensing in industry-sponsored trials, which was a game-changer for both my career and the measure. Working across sectors (and globally) to implement the BIMF and analyze the results is an invaluable and continual learning process for me. For example, I am working with a multidisciplinary team from Fundación Naceran (and its collaborating organizations) in Santiago, Chile, who are doing incredible work in this area. Fundación Naceran is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing specialized health and educational services for maternal and perinatal well-being. They are working to pilot and validate the BIMF in their population of new mothers.”
What led you to focus on maternal functioning rather than traditional mental health measures?
Honestly, I was looking for a dissertation topic focused on mental health. My mentors at Pitt pointed out that while there were validated, existing assessments for depression and anxiety, little was known about how to define, measure, and improve postpartum maternal functioning. The BIMF is the very first step in identifying functional deficits that should be addressed to help mom feel better about the flow of her day. The long-term goal would be for the BIMF to have a companion treatment where healthcare professionals help mom optimize her daily functioning, including maternal self-care. Sort of like occupational therapy, but specifically for the postpartum period.
How has leadership influenced your growth professionally?
I aim to create an environment where my staff and mentees feel supported, trusted, and empowered to take smart, calculated risks. Their success shouldn’t threaten me, and vice versa; there is too much insecurity and ego floating around in the professional world. If my mentees outperform me, that is the ultimate sign of my own success and impact; it is a circular feedback loop.
What advice would you give to young female professionals?
Take smart, calculated risks and align yourself with talented, supportive colleagues and mentors; that is where the growth is. Have the discipline to sideline your ego in order to learn. Be strategic in how you apply your time and energy. Also, you can have a thriving career and still be a good mother, though I will admit, it is challenging to maintain that balance.
What projects are you the most excited about right now in women’s health?
In addition to my ongoing work in postpartum functioning, I’m a member of the Maternal Health Vitality Think Tank (MHVTT), convened by the Georgia Health Initiative. The MHVTT is unique in that it works towards coordination and improvement of the maternal health systems across the state of Georgia.
Most recently, we released a commissioned report examining Georgia’s maternal health financing mechanisms and identifying the gaps in committed resources. I suspect that this report will be widely cited across a variety of settings (academic contexts, policy forums, and the non-profit world) and may even be a catalyst for attracting additional resources to the state.
At the heart of Dr. Jennifer Barkin’s work is a commitment to seeing mothers as whole people, not just patients defined by symptoms or diagnoses. Her research continues to reinforce a simple but powerful idea: when we better understand how mothers function in daily life, we can offer support that is more practical, more compassionate, and better aligned with what they truly need during the postpartum period.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice. For personalized medical guidance or concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.
