A recent national survey conducted by JAMA Internal Medicine reveals that more American mothers reported poorer mental health in 2023 compared to 2016, despite many claiming good health status. The study found a significant increase in fair or poor mental health ratings from 5.5% to 8.5%.
The decline in mental health was observed across all sociodemographic groups, but mothers who were born in the US, single, less educated, or whose children were uninsured faced lower self-reported mental health status.
Poor parental mental health can have long-lasting consequences on children’s development and overall well-being. According to study author Jamie Daw, maternal mood disorders can affect children’s development directly and indirectly by increasing exposure to other risks such as substance use and limited household resources.
Daw emphasizes the importance of addressing worsening mental health among parenting women, stating that this issue is a key area for improving maternal and child health in the US.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/06/09/mothers-mental-health-decline-parenting