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A Call For Improved Maternal Mental Health & Postpartum Care
Yesterday we celebrated Mother’s Day, recognizing a group of women who often put their own needs second to those of their family. All too often mom’s well-being is overlooked – starting as early as pregnancy and postpartum.
Recent findings from The Harris Poll’s 3rd Annual State of Maternal Health in America study show that moms are failing to receive adequate mental healthcare throughout pregnancy and postpartum. The full report will launch this summer, but here is an early look at some key findings:
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- We can’t only focus on the baby: 77% of women feel there’s not enough focus on healthcare for mothers after pregnancy/birth.
- You’re good to go!: 84% of women argue that the standard 6-week postpartum checkup falls short.
- Moms need mental health support: 63% of women ages 18-44 who are/have been pregnant report having been diagnosed with mental health issues by a healthcare provider.
- A lack of critical information: 55% of women who have given birth say they didn’t receive any or enough information or resources on postpartum depression.
- It’s time to step up care: 56% of women who experienced mental health issues postpartum report receiving subpar or no support at all for such issues.
Interested in learning more about America’s maternal healthcare crisis? While you’re waiting for the Harris on Demand team to release their 3rd Annual State of Maternal Health in America study, read the blog for more critical insights into mom’s mental healthcare, and revisit our 2024 report.
QSR & Fast Casual: An Industry Snapshot
Our recent report on the quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry explores how limited-time offers (LTOs) and healthy menu options impact frequent diners’ buying behavior. A few key takeaways:
- Americans are regulars at the drive-thru: 57% of U.S. adults are frequent QSR diners, meaning that they order items from a QSR at least once a week.
- Dreaming of that burger and fries: a Harris On Demand survey on behalf of Xenial finds that 83% of QSR customers arrive at the restaurant already knowing what they want to order.
- The power of LTOs to drive business: 31% of frequent diners agree that they have gone to a QSR specifically to try a limited-time menu item.
- Gen Zers will not miss a trend: a Harris Poll on behalf of TouchBistro finds that 81% of Gen Z diners are motivated to visit a restaurant if it has a LTO.
- Healthy eating remains a goal: 33% of frequent diners say that they would eat at QSRs more frequently if there were more healthy options available
Over-Index Report: This month’s over-index report uses data from QuestBrand by The Harris Poll to capture which restaurant chains over-index with men vs women. See a few of the brands that made the list below:
Advertising Effectiveness: Host-Read Podcast Ads Drive Trust & Action
How many podcasts do you listen to each week? Podcasts are gaining in popularity – listeners have increased by 69% in just the last four years. With millions of Americans turning to podcasts for news and entertainment, podcasts have also become a valuable space for brands to connect with consumers.
A recent survey from QuestDIY by The Harris Poll examines the effectiveness of podcast advertising and found:
- Podcast listeners are locked in: 36% tune into podcasts daily, and 35% are subscribed to 3-5 podcasts.
- Listeners trust podcast hosts: 68% of listeners say they’re likely to trust host recommendations.
- Keep it personal and conversational: 36% of podcast listeners prefer host-read ads to other podcast ad formats.
- Podcast listeners aren’t a passive audience: 49% of listeners took an action after hearing a podcast ad.
Read the full blog post for deeper insights into the efficacy of podcast advertising, and to determine whether this advertising method could be right for your brand.
Interested in hearing more about QuestDIY – the source of our survey data? Watch the video below for more information about this fast, reliable DIY survey tool:
Ulta Beauty & Cécred: Two Brands Are Better Than One – Case Study
In April 2025, Ulta Beauty exclusively launched Beyoncé’s Cécred haircare line both in-store and online. Only a year old, Cécred benefited from Ulta’s national distribution, while the established retailer profited from the Beyoncé-fueled hype:
- According to a 2024 Harris Poll from the Thought Leadership & Futures team, one-in-seven Americans consider themselves to be part of “the BeyHive,” Beyoncé’s dedicated fanbase.
- Beyoncé’s fandom is good news for Cécred sales – 65% of BeyHive members say that they have purchased Beyoncé’s products.
- In Cécred’s first day on the Ulta website, Ulta Beauty doubled its weekly projected sales.
- Ulta/Cécred’s partnership success is also clear in Ulta’s Questbrand conversion
funnel data. From pre-to-post-Cécred launch, we see significant growth among Ulta’s brand Familiarity (+9.1), Trial (+11.3), and Recommend (+12.1) scores among female consumers.
Takeaway: Even if a brand can’t bask in Beyoncé’s megawatt glow, companies can still lean into influencer marketing to build product trust and foster consumer engagement. A survey from the Harris on Demand team on behalf of the OAAA finds that 67% of consumers say they would take action after seeing a product/brand being endorsed by an influencer in an out of home (OOH) ad.
