Early Parenthood with Arthritis: Understanding How Mental Health is Affected and Identifying Support Needs

Start and end date:

2025-2026

Overview 

People living with autoimmune arthritis face added challenges as new parents that can negatively impact their mental health. Our study aims to better understand the mental health of parents with autoimmune rheumatic diseases and to identify support needs.

What will be done?

Participants will be asked to fill out an online survey asking about their disease, symptoms, mental health difficulties they may have faced, parenting experiences, and how their healthcare providers can better support them.

Participation in this study includes

Participants will be asked to fill out an online survey (30-40 min) and will be compensated for their time.

Who can participate?

YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE IF YOU:

• Have autoimmune arthritis (including rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile onset arthritis, lupus, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Sjögren’s syndrome, systemic sclerosis (scleroderma), or arthritis from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or Crohn’s disease)
• Are at least 18 years old
• Have a child under 6 years old

Want to find out more?

If interested, please click here to fill out our sign-up.

A member of the research team will contact you to enroll you.

If you have questions about the study, you can contact us at: ARDs.Parenthood@rimuhc.ca

This study has been approved by the McGill University Health Center Research Ethics Board.