A recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine has shed light on a concerning trend of declining self-reported mental health among mothers in the United States. Researchers from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health analyzed data from the National Survey of Children’s Health, involving nearly 200,000 mothers.
The study found a significant drop in the percentage of mothers reporting excellent mental health, decreasing from 38% in 2016 to 26% in 2023. Similarly, the proportion reporting excellent physical health declined from 28% to 24% over the same period. The percentage of mothers rating their mental health as fair or poor increased by 3.5 percentage points, a 63.6% rise from the baseline prevalence in 2016.
Interestingly, fathers also experienced declines in self-reported physical health, although the changes in mental health were less pronounced compared to mothers. Fathers consistently reported better mental and physical health than mothers throughout the study.
Disparities in maternal mental and physical health were observed among mothers of lower educational attainment, single mothers, and those with children covered by Medicaid or uninsured. The researchers emphasized the long-term effects of poor parental mental health on children, including adverse birth outcomes, developmental delays, and mental health issues.
The study highlights the need for more comprehensive research on the health and well-being of U.S. parents, with a focus on supporting maternal mental health. Efforts to improve maternal and child health should prioritize interventions that address prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health outcomes.
The findings underscore the importance of addressing the rising tide of worsening mental health among mothers as a key target for public health policies. The researchers call for more support and resources to improve maternal mental health and well-being, ultimately benefiting both mothers and their children.
For more information on this study, readers can refer to the publication in JAMA Internal Medicine. The research was conducted by a team from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, highlighting the institution’s commitment to advancing public health research and addressing critical issues affecting maternal and child health in the United States.
