There’s no sugarcoating it—being a mom today is hard.
Between juggling jobs, managing households, navigating school systems, handling medical appointments, and trying to show up emotionally and physically for our kids, it’s no wonder many mothers feel stretched far too thin. And now, a major national study confirms what so many moms have felt in their bones: their mental health is steadily declining—and it’s not just because of the pandemic.
The study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine in May 2025, looked at the health of nearly 200,000 mothers across the U.S. from 2016 to 2023. And the findings are sobering.
A Sharp Decline in Moms’ Mental Health
Over the eight-year period, the percentage of moms who said their mental health was “excellent” dropped from 38.4% to just 25.8%. At the same time, those who rated their mental health as “poor” or “fair” climbed from 5.5% to 8.5%—a 64% increase. Even after accounting for changing demographics (like moms’ age and education levels), the decline remained steep and consistent across every socioeconomic group.
In other words: it’s not just one type of mom who’s feeling it. It’s moms across the board.
And while mental health took the biggest hit, physical health has also seen a small but meaningful dip. The number of moms who reported “excellent” physical health also dropped, from 28% to 23.9%.
What’s Driving the Decline?
The study didn’t pinpoint one specific cause—but the researchers suggest what most of us already suspect: the mental load of motherhood is crushing, especially for those without enough support.
Some likely contributors include:
- The cost of living crisis: From housing and food to child care, everything is more expensive.
- Inadequate health care access: Especially for moms with public or no insurance.
- Social isolation: Especially post-pandemic, many moms are still feeling disconnected.
- Rising rates of anxiety and depression: Not just among parents, but among Americans in general.
- Systemic stressors: Like racism, income inequality, and the increasing unpredictability of life (climate change, mass shootings, political unrest).
And while the pandemic certainly made things worse, the researchers found that the decline in mental health actually started before COVID-19.
Who’s Hurting the Most?
The study also found that mental and physical health were noticeably worse among:
- Single moms
- Moms with lower levels of education
- Moms whose children had public or no health insurance
- U.S.-born moms compared to immigrant moms
These disparities are especially troubling because they compound. A mom who is parenting solo, working multiple jobs, and struggling to pay for her child’s basic needs is far more likely to report poor health. And that’s not just about her—it affects her kids, too.
Research has consistently shown that when a parent’s mental health suffers, it can have long-term impacts on their children, from delayed development to increased risk of emotional and behavioral issues.
The Mental Health of Dads Is Declining Too—But Not as Quickly
While this study focused mainly on moms, it also looked at dads. Unsurprisingly, their mental health has also taken a hit—but not as dramatically.
In 2023, 8.5% of moms reported poor or fair mental health, compared to just 4.5% of dads. That’s almost double. Dads did see a 10.5 percentage point drop in “excellent” mental health, which is significant, but moms are still bearing the brunt of this crisis.
What’s more? The gender gap in physical health is starting to shrink—not because dads are getting healthier, but because both moms and dads are slipping.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
This isn’t just about individual well-being. Poor maternal mental health is now the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S.—yes, even more than bleeding or infection. And mental health issues don’t magically go away after the baby is born.
The first few years of a child’s life are crucial for brain development and emotional bonding. When moms are drowning, it makes it harder to nurture, play, or simply be present. And it’s not their fault—it’s that we’re failing to support them.
When mothers suffer, families suffer. And when families suffer, so does society.
What Needs to Happen
The researchers behind this study are calling for urgent investment in maternal mental health—especially for moms who are low-income, underinsured, or parenting alone.
Here’s what that could look like:
- Affordable mental health care: Every mom should have access to therapy, medication, and community support—regardless of her income or insurance status.
- Paid parental leave: The U.S. is still the only industrialized country without it. Time to care for a newborn (and recover from childbirth) shouldn’t be a luxury.
- Universal child care support: Affordable, high-quality child care gives moms the breathing room they need to work, rest, or just be human.
- Better screening during pediatric visits: Many moms see their child’s doctor more than their own. That’s a key opportunity to check in on their mental health.
- Community-based programs: From mom-and-baby groups to culturally competent doulas, peer support can make a massive difference—especially for moms who feel isolated.
- More research: We need to keep tracking what’s happening—and why—so solutions are rooted in real evidence, not assumptions.
What Moms Can Do (Even When It Feels Like Too Much)
If you’re a mom reading this and nodding your head—know that you’re not alone. This study confirms what so many moms already feel deep down: something’s off, and it’s not just you.
That said, here are a few small but meaningful things you can do:
- Name it. Saying “I’m not okay” is a powerful first step—and it’s not a weakness.
- Ask for help. Whether it’s your partner, a friend, a therapist, or your doctor, you deserve support.
- Connect with others. Online or in person, finding your people can make the load feel lighter.
- Be kind to yourself. Your value isn’t tied to productivity, perfect parenting, or how well you hide your exhaustion.
- Know your limits. Boundaries are not just allowed—they’re necessary.
Maternal mortality has often been described as the “canary in the coal mine” of women’s health—an early warning sign that something is deeply wrong. But mental health might be an even louder alarm bell because this isn’t just a crisis during pregnancy. It’s showing up long after the six-week check-up.
This study sheds much-needed light on something that is often kept in the dark. Moms are struggling. And unless we take that seriously, through policies, health care, and community support, we’re putting the health of an entire generation at risk.
If we want to build stronger families, we have to start by caring for the people holding them together.
Sources:
- Daw, J.R., MacCallum-Bridges, C.L., & Admon, L.K. (2025). Trends and Disparities in Maternal Self-Reported Mental and Physical Health. JAMA Internal Medicine. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/10.1001/jamainternmed.2025.1260
- U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory (2024): Parents Under Pressure
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