TheMotherhood significantly affects mental health, and recently, the mental health of mothers in the U.S. has taken a sharp downturn between 2016 and 2023, a new study finds. Researchers at Columbia University Mailman School analyzed nearly 200,000 maternal health responses from a national survey.
The study was published in JAMA Internal Medicine, highlighting a dramatic rise in poor self-reported mental health among U.S. mothers. Data was drawn from the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH), spanning households with children aged zero to seventeen.
MOTHERHOOD ; A STEEP FALL IN REPORTED MENTAL WELLNESS
Mothers reporting “excellent” mental health dropped from 38% in 2016 to 26% by 2023, the research revealed. During the same time frame, reports of “fair” or “poor” mental health increased from 5.5% to 9%, a 63.6% surge.
Physical health ratings also dipped. In 2016, 28% of mothers said they were in excellent shape. This compared to 24% in 2023. The decline began well before the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers said, indicating deeper systemic issues beyond pandemic pressures.
FATHERS FARE BETTER, THOUGH HEALTH ALSO SLIPS
The health of fathers also declined slightly, especially in self-reported physical wellness, down from 30% to 26.4%. Yet, their mental health remained relatively stable, and consistently better than mothers in every year of the survey.
This health gap shows how gendered responsibilities and stress may uniquely burden mothers in American households.
MOTHERHOOD ; Socioeconomic Factors Drive Health Inequities
The study found stark disparities in mental and physical health among certain demographic groups of mothers. Single mothers, those with lower education, and mothers of children on Medicaid or uninsured faced worse health outcomes.
This confirms how maternal well-being is directly linked to social safety nets, financial stability, and healthcare access.
MATERNAL HEALTH DATA OFTEN ENDS TOO SOON
Lead author Dr. Jamie Daw emphasized the absence of long-term maternal health data beyond childbirth and postpartum year. “We lack robust national data on mothers’ health after the first postpartum year,” said Daw, a Columbia health policy expert.
This oversight leaves a blind spot in understanding the enduring health needs of parenting women in the U.S.
MOTHERHOOD ; CONSEQUENCES THAT SPAN GENERATIONS
Poor maternal mental health doesn’t stay confined to the individual—it spills over into child development and family dynamics. Mood disorders in mothers are linked to adverse birth outcomes, slower development, and childhood mental health issues.
“These disorders can directly impact development and increase exposure to secondary risks like substance abuse,” Daw warned. Chronic stress from poor mental health can drain household resources, affect parenting, and harm emotional attachment.
PANDEMIC ISN’T THE ONLY CULPRIT
While the pandemic deepened mental health struggles for many, the downward trend in maternal wellness began earlier. The slow erosion of well-being reveals systemic cracks in how the nation supports its mothers across all life stages.
Mothers from nearly every racial, income, and education group reported worsening health across the eight-year span. This pattern makes clear that the issue is national and structural, not isolated or circumstantial.
THE NEED FOR POLICY REBOOT
Researchers call for stronger health policies that treat maternal well-being as a long-term public health priority. This includes expanded mental health screenings, postpartum support programs, and access to affordable behavioral healthcare.
“Mothers need greater attention in health policy,” said Daw, stressing gendered health gaps revealed in the data. Policymakers must shift from reactive care during pregnancy to proactive mental health maintenance throughout parenting years.
MENTAL HEALTH CARE MUST REACH HOMEFRONT
Experts suggest integrating mental health services into pediatric and family health visits to better support mothers. Routine screenings during children’s doctor visits could help flag maternal mental strain early and connect families to care.
Community health models may also help underserved mothers who struggle to access clinics due to cost or transportation.
WHAT’S BEHIND THE CRISIS?
The study did not explore causes in depth, but likely contributors include rising economic pressure, isolation, and work-life imbalance.
Women still shoulder most caregiving responsibilities, especially in single-parent homes or low-income households. Childcare costs, job insecurity, and lack of paid leave worsen mental health, particularly for working-class and minority mothers.
These burdens can build into chronic stress, depressive episodes, and anxiety, exacerbated by insufficient mental health infrastructure.
MOTHERHOOD ; MENTAL HEALTH AS A FAMILY HEALTH ISSUE
Maternal well-being is vital not only for mothers themselves but for child health, family stability, and community resilience. Public health advocates argue for a shift from individual-focused mental health to a family-based wellness model.
“When a mother suffers, her entire household feels it,” said Daw, calling maternal care a national investment.
CLOSING THE GENDER WELLNESS GAP
The study urges society to rethink how parenting women are treated across medical, economic, and social systems. Fathers reported significantly better outcomes across the board, showing the need to address gender inequality in caregiving roles.
Better workplace support, flexible schedules, and mental health-friendly parenting environments could ease maternal strain.
MOTHERHOOD ; A NATIONAL WAKE-UP CALL
The data paints a bleak picture but also offers a roadmap for meaningful reform in maternal health services.
By listening to mothers and acting on this data, leaders can reverse the decline and build stronger family support systems. The time to address maternal mental health isn’t after a crisis—it’s now, and it must be sustained over time.
NEXT STEPS FOR RESEARCH AND REFORM
Daw and colleagues urge more studies on long-term parental health, particularly among historically marginalized populations. They call for increased funding, better data collection, and community-based approaches to improve maternal outcomes. Supportive policies—such as paid leave, affordable childcare, and universal health coverage—can help lift maternal wellness.
