Study reveals decline in US maternal mental health rates

A recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine highlights a troubling decline in the mental health of mothers in the United States, with notable disparities based on race, income, and family structure. This research underscores the ongoing maternal health crisis, as evidenced by rising maternal mortality rates and the increasing stress levels among parents.

The study, led by Jamie Daw, PhD, an assistant professor at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, examined national data from the National Survey of Children’s Health collected between 2016 and 2023. Of the caregivers surveyed, 61% identified as biological mothers. The study focused on self-reported physical and mental health indicators, using responses to questions about general health to quantify maternal wellbeing.

From 2016 to 2023, the percentage of mothers reporting excellent physical health dropped from 28% to 23.9%, while those reporting good physical health increased from 24.3% to 28.1%. Overall, there was a 4.2% decrease in self-reported physical health across the study period, translating to an average annual decline of 0.6%.

In contrast, mental health indicators showed more pronounced changes. The rate of mothers reporting excellent mental health fell from 38.4% in 2016 to 25.8% in 2023. Meanwhile, those reporting good mental health rose from 18.8% to 26.1%, and the percentage of mothers identifying their mental health as fair or poor increased from 5.5% to 8.5%. Overall, this represents a 12.4% adjusted decline in mental health, or 2% per year.

The study also found that mothers with lower educational levels, those without health insurance, and single mothers experienced particularly worse mental and physical health outcomes. This suggests that socioeconomic factors play a crucial role in maternal health disparities.

The demographic profile of the mothers included in the analysis showed that 89.8% were over 30 years of age, with racial representation consisting of 51.1% White, 27.2% Hispanic, 12.3% Black, 3.4% Asian, and 5.4% multiracial. The study noted changes in demographics, such as an increase in the percentage of non-Hispanic multiracial children from 4.6% in 2016 to 7.2% in 2023, and an increase in mothers aged at least 40 from 42.9% to 49%.

The findings indicate that the decline in maternal mental health began before the COVID-19 pandemic and affected nearly all sociodemographic groups, though the severity varied. Daw emphasized the need for targeted interventions to improve the mental health of mothers, recognizing that their health outcomes are generally worse compared to fathers.

This research highlights the critical need for policies and support systems that address the mental health challenges faced by mothers, particularly those from marginalized communities. Improving maternal mental health is essential not only for the wellbeing of mothers but also for the health of their children.