Research
Dr. Bonacquisti's research focuses broadly on reproductive health psychology. Currently,
Dr. Bonacquisti investigates mental health outcomes that occur in the context of reproductive
functioning, with an emphasis on psychological responses to adverse reproductive events
and reproductive trauma (e.g., infant admission to a neonatal intensive care unit
(NICU), infertility, pregnancy loss). She also studies the development and evaluation
of innovative treatments for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and reproductive
loss, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Previously, Dr. Bonacquisti's
research has addressed other reproductive health psychology topics such as HIV risk
reduction behaviors, the experience of HIV diagnosis during pregnancy and postpartum,
and the psychological effects of intimate partner violence.
As of 2022, Dr. Bonacquisti has authored thirteen peer-reviewed publications and four
book chapters. She has delivered nearly 80 conference presentations at local and national
conferences. She also regularly provides invited lectures, workshops and presentations
addressing her research within the local community as well as regional and national
venues.
Dr. Bonacquisti enjoys research collaboration and mentoring students in research endeavors,
and she welcomes students as part of her research team.
Publications
Grunberg, V.A., Geller, P.A., Durham, K., Bonacquisti, A., & Barkin, J. (2022). Development
of “Motherhood and Me (Mom-Me):” An evidence-based group to enhance maternal functioning
among women with postpartum mood and anxiety symptoms. Journal of Clinical Medicine,
11(9), 2345. doi: 10.3390/jcm11092345
DiSanza, C.B., Geller, P.A., Bonacquisti, A., Posmontier, B., Horowitz, J.A. & Chiarello,
L.C. (2020). A stepped care model of patient navigation to enhance engagement with
perinatal mental health care. Health Equity, 4(1), 484-488. doi: 10.1089/heq.2020.0077
Bonacquisti, A., Geller, P.A., & Patterson, C.A. (2020). Maternal depression, anxiety,
stress, and maternal-infant attachment in the neonatal intensive care unit. Journal
of Reproductive and Infant Psychology. doi: 10.1080/02646838.2019.1695041
Grunberg, V.A., Geller, P.A., Bonacquisti, A., & Patterson, C.A. (2019). NICU infant
health severity and family outcomes: a systematic review of assessments and findings
in psychosocial research. Journal of Perinatology, 39(2), 156-172. doi: 10.1038/s41372-018-0282-9
Geller, P.A., Posmontier, B.P., Horowitz, J.A., Bonacquisti, A., & Chiarello, L.C.
(2018). Introducing Mother Baby Connections: A model of intensive perinatal mental
health outpatient programming. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 41(5), 600-613. doi:
10.1007/s10865-018-9974-z
Bonacquisti, A., Cohen, M.J., & Schiller, C.E. (2017). Acceptance and commitment therapy
for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders: Development of an inpatient group intervention.
Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 20(5), 645-654. doi: 10.1007/s00737-017-0735-8