Understanding engagement in digital wellbeing programs to enhance women's coping skills and sustained emotional wellbeing in the perinatal period

Women in pregnancy and in the postnatal period are particularly vulnerable to experiencing psychological distress (stress, anxiety, and depression), amplified by adverse external factors, such as a global viral pandemic. This thesis examines an optimal timepoint for intervention to build positive emotional wellbeing in women during pregnancy and in the postnatal period using digital technology. There is a paucity of literature on engagement in digital mental health interventions in the perinatal period, specifically interventions based in contemplative practices, that is practices that develop the capacity for deep concentration and quieten the mind, such as mindfulness, loving-kindness, and self-compassion.