PUBLICATIONS
Research at the intersection of motherhood, ecology, and lived experience
These writings are for those who feel the limits of conventional care—and want to understand motherhood not as a private story, but as a social, ecological, and political one.
My work spans peer-reviewed research, collaborative essays, and conceptual frameworks that center maternal ecopsychology, climate distress, and the invisible labor of caregiving.
Each piece is part of an ongoing effort to name what has been silenced and to offer language that re-roots healing in context.
PEER-REVIEWED ARTICLES
“Ecopsychological development and maternal ecodistress during matrescence”
Allison Davis & Aurelie Athan
This article introduces maternal ecopsychology, a framework that explores how motherhood can deepen ecological identity and consciousness. Davis and Athan examine maternal ecodistress—the psychological impact of climate concern during matrescence—as a potential site of growth, not pathology. They advocate for nature-based practices to support maternal mental health and ecological belonging.
“Untangling the double bind of carework in green motherhood: An ecofeminist developmental path forward”
Allison Davis
This article critiques the ideology of green motherhood, where environmental care is framed as an individual maternal duty tied to consumption. Davis explores the psychological and ecological toll of this “double bind,” offering an ecofeminist developmental framework that redefines carework through relational, ecological, and anti-consumerist practices.
“Mental Health Impacts of Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events on Mothers”
Madelyn Pardon et al.
This study examines how climate change and extreme weather events (EWEs) impact maternal mental health, with a focus on increased rates of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs). The authors highlight experiences of fear, isolation, and distress among mothers, calling for targeted mental health support, resilience-building strategies, and policy reform to protect maternal well-being amid environmental crisis.
ESSAYS & PUBLIC WRITING
“Why mothers need matrescence”
Published in Tumbleweeds Magazine
This essay introduces matrescence—the developmental transition into motherhood—as a framework for understanding the emotional, psychological, and identity shifts mothers experience. It challenges cultural narratives that treat motherhood as static or instinctual, and calls for more compassionate, nuanced support that honors the complexity of maternal becoming.
“Rooted in Care: Reimagining Motherhood Through the Wisdom of the Earth
Published in Kindred Media
This piece explores how ecological wisdom and relational care can reshape our understanding of motherhood. Challenging extractive, performance-based ideals, it invites readers to see mothering as an Earth-honoring practice rooted in reciprocity, slowness, and deep belonging—to both land and lineage.