A new study finds more moms in the U.S. describe their mental health as fair or poor. Researchers say their physical health is also on the decline.
More American moms are struggling with their mental health, a new study warns.
The percentage of mothers reporting excellent mental health dropped sharply from 38% in 2016 to 26% in 2023. At the same time, the number of mothers reporting fair or poor mental health increased 64%.
The researchers analyzed data from more than 198,000 mothers, 30 years of age and older, who took part in the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH).
The proportion of mothers who described their physical health as excellent also declined, from 28% to 24%, according to researchers.
These declines started before the COVID-19 pandemic and were observed in nearly every socioeconomic group in the study.
The outcomes were consistently worse for mothers compared to fathers. The percentage of dads reporting excellent physical health also dropped, from 30% to 26%, but changes in their mental health were minor.
One author warns, “Maternal mood disorders, in particular, can have long-term effects on children, directly by affecting development…” And indirectly by increasing the risk for exposure to parental substance use and lower household resources.
She says these findings suggest U.S. parents, especially mothers need more support to help prevent, diagnose and treat mental health issues.
Source: JAMA Internal Medicine
Author Affiliations: Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
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