Barbara Cattarius

Professor Barbara Cattarius serves as Professor of Applied Midwifery Science at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Saarland University of Applied Sciences since October 2020. She also holds positions as Vice Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and member of both the Faculty Council and Women's Advisory Board at htw saar. Her academic journey began with psychology studies at the University of Koblenz-Landau, where she completed her Dipl.-Psych. in 2014 with a thesis on expectant parents' sleep quality, followed by a doctorate in natural sciences from Bielefeld University in 2022.

• 2008-2014: Psychology studies at University of Koblenz-Landau
• 2014: Dipl.-Psych. with thesis on expectant parents' sleep quality
• 2022: Doctorate from University of Bielefeld on transition to parenthood

Professor Cattarius specializes in the psychological aspects of transition to parenthood, with particular focus on sleep disorders in the peripartum context, prenatal bonding, and protective and risk factors during family transitions. Her research employs systemic therapy approaches to understand family dynamics during major life changes. She has developed specialized birth preparation courses incorporating systemic perspectives and has conducted extensive research on couple sleep patterns throughout pregnancy and postpartum periods.

Her publication portfolio reveals consistent focus on sleep patterns during family transitions, particularly examining how childbirth affects couple relationships and sleep quality. The research shows progression from studying individual sleep patterns to examining systemic family dynamics, with increasing emphasis on practical interventions for birth preparation and sleep management. Her work bridges clinical psychology, sleep medicine, and midwifery science.

• Posterpreis at 20th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research (2012)

Professor Cattarius maintains active clinical practice as a psychologist through her private practice (systemische-praxis-bc.de) since 2018, integrating systemic consulting and couples therapy approaches developed through her further training at IF Weinheim (2014-2016). She serves on multiple institutional committees including the Faculty Council and Women's Advisory Board at htw saar. Her academic activities complement her extensive professional background as a midwife with clinical experience spanning two decades at various hospitals in Germany.

She leads research initiatives examining family system changes during transition to parenthood, with particular focus on sleep disturbances and relationship dynamics. Her work connects clinical practice with academic research through her development of evidence-based birth preparation courses incorporating systemic therapy principles.