Mother's mental health continues to be on the decline

A large study conducted by JAMA Internal Medicine shows that mother's mental health declined between the years of 2016 to 2023. Researchers analyzed data from nearly 200,000 mothers who participated in the National Survey of Children’s Health, representing over 42 million women nationally. The results paint a stark picture of declining maternal well-being:

Mental Health Decline

• Share of mothers rating their mental health as “excellent” fell from 38.4% (2016) → 25.8% (2023).

• “Fair or poor” mental health rose from 5.5% (2016) → 8.5% (2023) — a 63.6% relative increase.

• Decline in mental health started before COVID-19, though the pandemic worsened it.

  
  

Physical Health Changes

• “Excellent” physical health declined from 28.0% → 23.9%.

• No significant change in “fair or poor” physical health.

Groups Most at Risk

• Single mothers → worse mental & physical health.

• Mothers with publicly insured or uninsured children → poorer health.

• Younger mothers → worse mental health vs. older mothers.

• Less educated mothers → greater health disparities.

References

JAMA Internal Medicine

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2834318

Dr. Sandra Rodriguez-Siuts, a licensed psychologist in Scottsdale, Arizona, specializes in the treatment of maternal mental health concerns. If you are a mother struggling, contact our office to get started with either in-person or online therapy.