About

Margaret Bublitz is an Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Psychiatry and Human Behavior, and Medicine at Brown Medical School, as well as a member of the Brown School of Public Health. She holds a PhD in clinical psychology from the University of British Columbia and completed her psychology internship and NIH T32 postdoctoral fellowship in Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine at Brown Medical School. Her clinical and research work focuses on perinatal mental health and Integrated Behavioral Health, with a particular emphasis on stress, trauma, and resilience. Dr. Bublitz leads several NIH-funded research studies involving pregnant and postpartum participants at risk for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Her research areas include cardiovascular diseases, childhood abuse, early life stress, neuroendocrine function, hypertension, mindfulness, pregnancy, preterm birth, and stress. She is also a member of the Stress, Trauma, and Resilience (STAR) COBRE and the Brown Mindfulness Center. Her scholarly contributions include numerous publications exploring the intersections of maternal health, stress, sleep, inflammation, and neurodevelopment, advancing understanding of how psychological and physiological factors influence pregnancy outcomes and maternal well-being.

Research topics

• Intensive care medicine
• Environmental health
• Pediatrics
• Psychiatry
• Medicine
• Internal medicine

Selected publications

• Enhancing Interoceptive Awareness Through a Digital Mindfulness Intervention: Evidence from a Real-World Population

  Behavioral Medicine · 2026-04-22

  article

  (ERN) app is a digital MBI targeting craving-related eating through mindfulness training. While ERN has previously been shown to reduce craving-related eating, the mechanisms underlying its effects, particularly the role of interoceptive awareness-the conscious perception of internal bodily signals such as hunger, satiety, and muscular tension, and the capacity to use these signals to guide behavior-remain understudied. Interoceptive awareness is the ability to identify, understand, and respond to internal bodily signals. To examine whether engagement with the ERN app is associated with changes in interoceptive awareness in a real-world sample, a total of 3,469 users completed three subscales of the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA), a self-report measure of interoceptive awareness, every 7 days throughout app usage, including the capacity to attend to uncomfortable bodily sensations without avoidance (Not Distracting), to actively listen to bodily signals (Body Listening), and to trust the body as a source of reliable information (Trusting). App usage metrics were extracted, including core module completion, mindfulness exercises, tool use, community engagement, and latency between assessments. Tobit regression models and two-part models were utilized to assess the relationship between app engagement and follow-up MAIA scores. Engagement with ERN app was associated with greater interoceptive awareness across subscales. Increased latency between assessments was negatively associated with Not Distracting. App community engagement was not significantly associated with interoception. These findings suggest that interoceptive awareness may be a mechanism through which digital mindfulness interventions support healthier eating behaviors.

  PublisherDOI

• Integrating behavioral health into pulmonary medicine: a call to action

  BMC Health Services Research · 2026-02-07

  articleOpen access

  There is a strong need for integrated behavioral health (IBH) services in clinics that serve patients with chronic illness who experience high co-occurring mental and physical health burdens. However, the specific needs of patients with pulmonary diseases and sleep disorders, whose mental and physical health are significantly affected by these conditions, are not well characterized. We conducted a needs assessment in an outpatient practice serving patients with pulmonary diseases and/or sleep disorders, that recently began providing IBH services. Our goal was to broadly characterize the physical and mental health needs of these patients, as well as explore differences by medical condition, sex, and level of functioning. Among the 260 patients who participated in our online survey (51% female, 77% age 51 or older), 38% had sleep disorders, 26% airway diseases, 6% interstitial lung diseases/diffuse parenchymal lung diseases, 6% pulmonary vascular diseases, and 24% other pulmonary diseases (e.g., lung cancer). Patients with airway diseases and patients with sleep disorders emerged as two groups with significant physical and mental health burdens based on ANOVAs. T-tests showed that female patients reported worse mental and physical health functioning compared to male patients. ANOVAs also showed that patients with limited physical ability had lower physical, mental, and pulmonary health functioning, as well as greater patient care needs, compared to patients who were symptom-free. Findings highlight the potential need for and promise of integrating behavioral health services within clinics serving patients with pulmonary and sleep conditions. Our needs assessment shows how pulmonary disease and sleep disorder patients bear a significant burden of physical and mental health-related needs, and how specific concerns relate to their particular condition, sex, and functional status.

  PublisherDOI

• Feasibility and Acceptability of Just Breathe, A Novel Handheld Mindful Breathing Device, for Postpartum Stress: Pilot, Single-Arm Pre-Post Study

  JMIR Formative Research · 2026-02-27

  articleOpen access

  Among newly postpartum people, the novel Just Breathe guided breathing device showed high user satisfaction scores and self-perceived reductions in stress, although the Cohen d effect on heart rate variability and stress or anxiety symptoms as measured by validated psychometric scales was minimal.

  PublisherDOI

• Patient Perceptions of In-person and Telehealth Group Support for Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorders Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic

  Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings · 2026-02-13

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Association between Maternal Body Mass Index, Skin Incision-to-Delivery Time, and Umbilical Artery pH in Cesarean Deliveries

  American Journal of Perinatology · 2025-05-27

  article

  Abstract To estimate the association between maternal body mass index (BMI) at delivery, time from skin incision to infant delivery, and umbilical artery (UA) pH < 7.0. This was a secondary analysis of the Assessment of Perinatal Excellence, a multicenter observational study of an obstetrical cohort of individuals who delivered between 2008 and 2011 in the United States. This analysis included women who delivered via cesarean with known BMI at delivery, skin incision-to-delivery time, and UA pH. Multivariable linear regression assessed the association between BMI and time from skin incision to infant delivery while multivariable logistic regression estimated the associations of BMI and time from skin incision to delivery with UA pH < 7.0. An interaction between BMI and skin incision-to-delivery time was evaluated to examine their combined effect on UA pH < 7.0. A total of 16,723 women were included across five BMI groups. Increasing BMI was associated with longer time intervals from skin incision to delivery and higher rates of UA pH < 7.0. After controlling for potentially confounding factors, all BMI groups ≥25 kg/m2 were associated with longer time intervals from skin incision to delivery. Specifically, BMI groups of 40 to 49.9 and ≥50 kg/m2 had skin incision-to-delivery times that were 1.30 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.23–1.36) and 1.44 (95% CI: 1.34–1.55) times longer, respectively, compared with BMI < 25 kg/m2. In the multivariable logistic regression, BMI group ≥50 kg/m2 remained associated with higher odds of UA pH < 7.0. There was a significant interaction between BMI and time from skin incision to delivery regarding the risk of UA pH < 7.0 (p for the interaction term = 0.003). Maternal BMI ≥ 50 kg/m2 was associated with a longer time from skin incision to infant delivery and higher odds of UA pH < 7.0. BMI differentially impacted UA pH at different skin incision-to-delivery time intervals.

  PublisherDOI

• Psychological mechanisms of prenatal mindfulness training on antenatal blood pressure reduction: A pilot study

  Journal of Psychosomatic Research · 2025-06-06

  article1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Interoception and eating behavior in participants at risk for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

  Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine · 2025-12-17

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  OBJECTIVES: Disordered eating during pregnancy can impact maternal and fetal health. Disordered eating has been linked to higher cardiovascular risks including hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). Interoceptive awareness, the ability to perceive and respond to bodily sensations, is reduced among people with disordered eating and may be associated with blood pressure (BP). This study tested these associations in pregnant women at risk for HDP. METHODS: Ninety-five pregnant women at risk for HDP participated in the study. At ∼18 weeks' gestation we measured 24-hour BP, interoceptive awareness, and disordered eating. Linear regression analyses were used to test associations, adjusting for covariates (BMI, education, income, race). RESULTS: Greater interoceptive awareness-specifically lower anxiety about bodily sensations ("Not Worrying")-was significantly associated with lower daytime diastolic BP (B=-0.21, p=0.05), lower uncontrolled eating (B=-0.52, p<0.001), and lower emotional eating (B=-0.51, p<0.001). Higher scores on the "Not Worrying" subscale were associated with less uncontrolled eating (B=-0.52, p<0.001) and less Emotional Eating (B=-0.51, p<0.001). Higher scores on the "Attention Regulation" subscale were associated with less uncontrolled eating (B=-0.24, p=0.02) and less emotional eating (B=-0.25, p=0.02). Cognitive Restraint was associated with higher nighttime diastolic BP (B=0.27, p=0.04) but not interoceptive awareness. CONCLUSIONS: Increased interoceptive awareness was associated with both healthier eating behaviors and lower BP in pregnant women at risk for HDP. Interventions that enhance interoceptive awareness may offer a promising strategy for reducing risk for cardiovascular complications in pregnancy.

  PublisherDOI

• Trait mindfulness in early pregnancy and adverse perinatal outcomes: a prospective cohort study

  BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth · 2025-01-24 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  BACKGROUND: Mindfulness centered therapy has been shown to improve perinatal mental health outcomes. There is emerging evidence that mindfulness training (MT) can also be harnessed to improve somatic outcomes. Yet, little is known about which perinatal populations might benefit the most from mindfulness training interventions. We aimed to evaluate the association between trait mindfulness and adverse pregnancy outcomes. METHODS: This is a planned secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study of nulliparous participants recruited between May 2019 and February 2022 from a single, high volume tertiary care center. Participants completed the validated Mindfulness and Attentive Awareness Scale prior to 20 weeks gestation. Trained research staff abstracted pregnancy and delivery data. The primary outcome was unplanned cesarean delivery (CD). Secondary outcomes included gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and a neonatal morbidity composite. We examined outcomes by mindfulness quartile (Q), adjusting for covariates determined a priori. RESULTS: Of the 281 participants with full outcome data, 47.9% experienced one or more of the adverse perinatal outcomes and the median trait mindfulness score was 4.6 (IQR 3.9-5.3). After adjusting for potential confounders, there were significantly lower rates of CD rates in those in Q2 and Q3 compared to Q4 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] Q2 0.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.20 - 0.87, Q3 aOR 0.23, 95% CI 0.10-0.51). There were no differences in rates of gestational diabetes, hypertension or composite neonatal outcomes by trait mindfulness quartile. CONCLUSIONS: In this prospective cohort of nulliparous people, those with trait mindfulness in the 2nd and 3rd quartiles had lower rates of CD. Given prior literature suggesting active MT decreases adverse outcomes, there may be a component of the active practice of mindfulness, rather than trait mindfulness levels, associated with improved outcomes.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Feasibility and Acceptability of Just Breathe, A Novel Handheld Mindful Breathing Device, for Postpartum Stress: Pilot, Single-Arm Pre-Post Study (Preprint)

  2025-10-05

  articleOpen access

  <sec> <title>UNSTRUCTURED</title> Among newly postpartum people, the novel Just Breathe guided breathing device showed high user satisfaction scores and self-perceived reductions in stress, although the Cohen d effect on heart rate variability and stress or anxiety symptoms as measured by validated psychometric scales was minimal. </sec>

  PublisherDOI

• Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) use across the menstrual cycle and oral contraceptive regimen: A proof-of-concept intensive longitudinal study

  Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports · 2025-06-13

  articleOpen access

  Exogenous and endogenous ovarian hormones (e.g., estradiol, progesterone) may influence nicotine use. Prior research has focused on combustible cigarettes and yielded mixed results, which may be due to a lack of granular assessment of nicotine use across the menstrual cycle or oral contraceptive (OC) regimen. We conducted a small proof-of-concept study on Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS). Our goals were to examine the utility of intensive longitudinal methods to assess ENDS use in a ~month long protocol, and explore ENDS use levels and variability among naturally cycling (NC) individuals and those using OCs. There were 12 NC participants ( M age =22) and 7 participants using OCs (M age =21). ENDS occasions were assessed 4 times a day across the protocol. On average, the NC group completed 77% and the OC group completed 86% of ENDS assessments. The average number of missing data was 2.2 days ( SD =2.9). Time-Varying Effect Modeling (TVEM) examine changes in links between variables over time. TVEM revealed increases in ENDS use coinciding with rises in estradiol across the menstrual cycle. In contrast, ENDS use was consistent in the OC group. Preliminary evidence indicates that ENDS use among NC individuals varies as a function of natural fluctuations in ovarian hormones while OCs appear to lower and stabilize ENDS use. Despite the small sample, this study suggests that intensive longitudinal methods are useful for examining links between the menstrual cycle, OCs, and ENDS use. This proof-of-concept research may galvanize mechanistic and intervention research on ovarian hormones and ENDS use. • Preliminary evidence suggests that ENDS use varies as a function of naturally occurring fluctuations in estradiol across the menstrual cycle. • Tentative evidence suggests that oral contraceptives may lower and stabilize ENDS use. • Intensive longitudinal methods are useful for examining links between the menstrual cycle/oral contraceptive regimens and ENDS use.

  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• Mechanisms of mindfulness training to prevent hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

  NIH · $2.8M · 2021–2027

• Core C: Community Collaborative Core

  NIH · $20.2M · 2021–2026

Frequent coauthors

• Ghada Bourjeily

  Brown University

  249 shared

• Laura R. Stroud

  Brown University

  153 shared

• Laura Sanapo

  Brown University

  102 shared

• Chrystal Vergara‐Lopez

  Brown University

  69 shared

• Elena Salmoirago‐Blotcher

  Providence College

  51 shared

• Meghan Sharp

  Oregon State University

  45 shared

• Sharon Y. Lee

  Brown University

  38 shared

• Myriam Salameh

  Providence College

  28 shared

Labs

• Bublitz, MargaretPI

Education

• Ph.D., Clinical Psychology

  University of British Columbia

• Other, Psychology

  Brown Medical School

• Other, Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine

  Brown Medical School

Awards & honors

• Global Fulbright Scholar for the 2024-2025 cohort