Dr. Cathy Mcmahon

Biography

Cathy McMahon is an Honorary Associate Professor at Macquarie University, where she is actively involved in the research community and outreach work focusing on psychological adaptation and the transition to parenthood. Her work is particularly concerned with reproductive risk factors, such as infertility and assisted conception, as well as perinatal mood disorders. In addition to her research on parent-child attachment relationships, she has developed programs to support parenting in the early years. McMahon's recent book, 'Becoming Parent: Contemporary Contexts and Challenges of the Transition to Parenthood,' published by Cambridge University Press, explores the unprecedented reproductive choices available in the 21st century and the psychological journeys undertaken by individuals facing non-traditional pathways to parenthood. Her research integrates personal stories of men and women from diverse backgrounds, including those involved in high-risk pregnancies, and aims to provide evidence-based support for new parents. She collaborates on research projects with organizations such as Tresillian Family Care Centres and the ACT Perinatal Mental Health Service. McMahon is also an Executive Committee member of Healthy Attachment Australia New Zealand, aiming to strengthen community engagement and support for vulnerable families.

Research Interests

Experience