There's a New Study on Moms' Mental Health...and It's Not Great

A study released this month examined the state of mothers' mental health in the U.S. from 2016 to 2023. Using data from 200,000 mothers, the study reveals a "significant decline" in emotional and physical well-being for mothers in all age groups and demographics.

Margaret and Amy break down the data, the implications, and the causes—which certainly include the pandemic, although there are many other social, economic, and cultural forces contributing to the stress of modern motherhood.

Amy and Margaret discuss:

• What a major national study reveals about maternal mental health trends
• Why the decline in mental health extends far beyond the postpartum period
• The role of pandemic-related stress, financial pressures, and lack of support
• How parents can prioritize their own well-being—even in small, actionable ways
• Why maternal mental health impacts the whole family system

Mothers' mental health is showing up as a true crisis, and not just in the postpartum months, but throughout the parenting journey. The clear connection between children’s mental health and that of their caregivers makes maternal well-being an imperative public health priority.

Here are links to some of the resources mentioned in the episode:

• Catherine Pearson for the New York Times: Study Finds a Steep Drop in Mothers’ Mental Health

• Daw JR, MacCallum-Bridges CL, Admon LK: Trends and Disparities in Maternal Self-Reported Mental and Physical Health. JAMA Intern Med. 

• Sara Moniuszko for CBS News: Moms in the U.S. report large decline in mental health in recent years, study finds

• Elizabeth Tenety for Motherly: Just 1 in 4 moms say they’re doing well mentally—new study reveals a growing crisis

• Reddit/Health: Moms in the U.S. report large decline in mental health in recent years, study finds

• Pooja Lakshmin MD on Substack: Mental health is personal — and political

• Our Fresh Take with Pooja Lakshmin on Burnout and Mom Guilt

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