Clarifying the Relationship Between Parenthood and Depression

Abstract

Unlike other major adult social roles in the United States, parenthood does not appear to confer a mental health advantage for individuals. However, while research has examined parental status differences in emotional well-being, relatively little is known about variations in emotional distress among parents. In this article, we clarify the relationship between parenthood and current symptoms of depression using data from the National Survey of Families and Households. The analyses provide support for our first hypothesis: Parenthood is not associated with enhanced mental health since there is no type of parent who reports less depression than nonparents. We also find support for our second hypothesis: Certain types of parenthood are associated with more depression than others. Additionally, although we find marital status differences in symptoms among parents, there are no gender differences in the association between parenthood and depression. We discuss the implications of our findings for ongoing theoretical debates about the advantages of social role involvement for mental health as well as the meaning of contemporary parenthood in the United States.

The effect of marital status on psychological distress among single and partnered mothers in Ghana: The moderating role of employment status

“…Cairney, Boyle, Offord, and Racine (2003) also noted that, such conditions of single mothers prevent them from taking part in some social activities. This has consistently been reported by researchers that lone or single mothers experience more depression and psychological distress compared to married mothers (Cunningham & Knoester, 2007;Evenson & Simon, 2005;Cairney et al, 2003;Nomaguchi & Milkie, 2003).…”

Fertility History and Cognition in Later Life.

“…An early age at entry to parenthood and large family size (high parity) may lead to socioeconomic strain and limit opportunities for career involvement and progression, especially for women, which is relevant as occupational complexity is associated with later life cognition (Andel et al, 2014). Additionally "off-time" fertility may increase risks of depression and a poorer sense of control in life, partly due to associations with socioeconomic factors and possibly because of the reduced resilience of young parents to the stresses involved in raising children (Evenson & Simon, 2005;Koropeckyj-Cox, Pienta, & Brown, 2007;. The timing of parenthood, and to some extent number of children, is socially patterned and strongly associated with levels of education.…”

The pains and pleasures of parenting: When, why, and how is parenthood associated with more or less well-being?

“…The evolutionary and developmental importance of parenting (Gerson, Berman, & Morris, 1991;, as well as its associated costs and rewards (Nomaguchi & Milkie, 2003), has led many social scientists to ask whether parents are better or worse off than their childless peers. Research on this topic has captured both the highs and lows of having children, with some studies indicating that parenthood is associated with higher well-being (Aassve, Goisis, & Sironi, 2012;Ballas & Dorling, 2007;Herbst & Ifcher, 2013;Myrskyla & Margolis, 2012;Nelson, Kushlev, English, Dunn, & Lyubomirsky, 2013), and others suggesting the reverse (Evenson & Simon, 2005;Glenn & Weaver, 1979;McLanahan & Adams, 1987). Accordingly, the association between parenthood and wellbeing has become a hot topic among sociologists, psychologists, and economists, as well as the media and the general public.…”