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3d ago

Sharp Drop in U.S. Mothers’ Mental Health from 2016 to 2023

Single mothers; those with limited education; families lacking health coverage bear the brunt of a nationwide decline in maternal mental well-being.

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Overview

  • JAMA Internal Medicine researchers analyzed data from nearly 200,000 mothers and found those rating their mental health as 'excellent' fell from 38% in 2016 to 26% in 2023.
  • Mothers reporting 'fair' or 'poor' mental health increased from 5.5% to 9% during the study period, marking a 64% relative rise.
  • The downward trend began before the COVID-19 pandemic and persisted through 2023, indicating broader socioeconomic pressures at work.
  • Mothers experienced steeper declines than fathers, with one in 12 mothers reporting fair or poor mental health in 2023 compared to one in 22 fathers.
  • Researchers warn that children of mothers with mood disorders face higher risks of adverse birth outcomes, developmental delays and future mental health challenges.