Studies have already established that mothers are more likely to experience mental health challenges, particularly during and after pregnancy. Specifically, postpartum depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders are common. These challenges can be due to hormonal changes, stress, social factors, and the emotional and psychological demands of motherhood.Now, a recent comprehensive study has revealed that only about 25% of mothers in the United States perceive their physical and mental health as “excellent.”This significant study and its findings were published recently in the esteemed medical journal, JAMA Internal Medicine.
What does the study say?
The research examined a substantial sample of 198,417 mothers with children aged 17 and under, uncovering notable declines in self-reported mental health among mothers, alongside minor decreases in their physical well-being between the years 2016 and 2023.
The study used a four-point scale to gauge health outcomes, which included categories such as excellent, very good, good, and fair/poor. Alarmingly, the prevalence of mothers reporting “excellent” mental health plummeted from 38.4% to just 25.8% over the designated time frame. Meanwhile, those identifying their mental health as “good” saw an increase from 18.8% to 26.1%, and the percentage of mothers reporting “fair” or “poor” mental health rose from 5.5% to 8.5%. In terms of physical health, the percentage of mothers categorizing themselves as having “excellent” health declined from 28.0% to 23.9%. Conversely, the number of mothers rating their physical health as “good” increased from 24.3% to 28.1%. The study observed that the proportion of mothers in the “fair/poor” category for physical health remained largely unchanged.The study findings resonate with existing documentation of a rise in depression and anxiety among women of childbearing age, as well as within the broader US adult population. The authors concluded that their data correlates with assertions from various scholars suggesting that maternal mortality could serve as an early warning signal for women’s overall health.
Experts’ take:
The authors of the study noted, “Mental health declines occurred across all socioeconomic subgroups; however, mental and physical health status was significantly lower for single female parents, those with lower educational attainment, and those with publicly insured children,”.
Moreover, the study also assessed the health changes among male parents during the same eight-year period. While these male parents showed declines in both “excellent” physical and mental health, their overall health scores remained significantly higher than those of their female counterparts. For instance, in 2023, female parents reported “fair/poor” mental health at a rate that was four percentage points higher than male parents.
Why is it important?
This examination of parental mental health is timely, as it has gained attention in previous discussions. In a related advisory, former US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy underscored the pressing need for a shift in national attitudes towards parenting and caregiving. In his advisory titled ‘Parents Under Pressure’, he had noted, “The work of parenting is essential not only for the health of children but also for the health of society. Additionally, we know that the well-being of parents and caregivers is directly linked to the well-being of their children.”
What can be done to help the moms?
To improve the mental health of mothers, a multifaceted approach is needed, including addressing systemic inequities, providing access to mental health services, supporting mothers’ physical and emotional well-being, and fostering a culture of understanding and compassion.While the researchers acknowledged the need for further investigation to pinpoint the exact causes behind the decline in mental health among mothers, they proposed several leading theories. These include barriers to accessing mental health care, feelings of social isolation, increasing rates of substance use disorders, and the impact of external stressors such as economic inflation, systemic racism, gun violence, and climate change.
