A recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine has found a significant decline in the mental health of mothers in the United States over an 8-year period, from 2016 to 2023. The study, which looked at 198,417 mothers with children under 18, reported that only about one-fourth of moms say they have “excellent” physical and mental health.
The study found that prevalence of “excellent” mental health declined by 13% over the period, while “good” mental health rose by 8.1%. In contrast, prevalence of “fair/poor” mental health increased by 55%.
While mental health declines were observed across all socioeconomic groups, single female parents and those with lower educational attainment experienced significantly worse health scores.
The study’s findings are consistent with documented increases in depression and anxiety among pregnant and reproductive-aged women, as well as the general US adult population. The authors attribute the decline to limited access to mental health care, social isolation, rising substance use disorders, and broader stressors such as inflation, racism, gun violence, and climate change.
The study’s lead author noted that their findings are supportive of the claim that maternal mortality may be a warning sign for women’s health more broadly.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/moms-decline-mental-health-study