The Mater Misericordiae Mothers' Hospital-University of Queensland Study of Pregnancy began as a prospective study of 8,556 pregnant women interviewed after their first clinic visit. The initial phase of data collection commenced in 1981. Later phases have collected data on both mother and child at post-birth, six months, five years and fourteen/ fifteen year follow-ups. The follow-up for the twenty-one year old children and their mothers commenced in April 2002.

The project continues to study the health and general well-being of mothers and their children with the aim of improving the quality of care received from medical and social agencies. Initial and progressive stages were developed to focus on physical and emotional well-being, social behaviour patterning, and predictors of juvenile and adult behaviour.


Aims and objectives

To study the social and psychological factors in obstetric outcomes

To study the determinants of child health and well-being

To study the causes of child behaviour problems

To study mental and physical inequalities in child health

To monitor maternal mental health and physical health over time


Variables/factors assessed

Maternal demographics - age, education, employment, marital status, income

Maternal lifestyle - cigarette and alcohol consumption, pre-pregnancy physical activity

Maternal mental health and dyadic adjustment - depression, anxiety, stress, life events, marital conflict

Maternal child rearing - attitudes to newborns, mother-child interactions, parenting and discipline style

Maternal health

Pregnancy outcomes

Child health

Child behaviour


Related links for: Mater-University of Queensland Study of Pregnancy (MUSP)