Abstract
Objectives. We assessed whether there were associations between maternal mental health and individual and co-occurring parenting stressors related to social and financial factors and child health care access. Methods. We used cross-sectional data from the 2000 National Survey of Early Childhood Health. The 5-item Mental Health Inventory was used to measure self-reported mental health. Results. After we controlled for demographic covariates, we found that the following stressors increased the risk of poor maternal mental health: lack of emotional (odds ratio [OR] = 3.4; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.0, 5.9) or functional (OR = 2.2; 95% CI = 1.3, 3.7) social support for parenting, too much time spent with child (OR = 3.5; 95% CI = 2.0, 6.1), and difficulty paying for child care (OR = 2.3; 95% CI = 1.4, 3.9). In comparison with mothers without any parenting stressors, mothers reporting 1 stressor had 3 times the odds of poor mental health (OR = 3.1; 95% CI = 2.1, 4.8), and mothers reporting 2 or more stressors had nearly 12 times the odds (OR = 11.7; 95% CI = 7.1, 19.3). Conclusions. If parenting stressors such as those examined here are to be addressed, changes may be required in community support systems, and improvements in relevant social policies may be needed.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1261-1268 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | American Journal of Public Health |
| Volume | 97 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 7 2007 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Cite this
Parenting-related stressors and self-reported mental health of mothers with young children. / Mistry, Ritesh; Stevens, Gregory D.; Sareen, Harvinder; De Vogli, Roberto; Halfon, Neal.
In: American Journal of Public Health, Vol. 97, No. 7, 07.01.2007, p. 1261-1268.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Parenting-related stressors and self-reported mental health of mothers with young children
AU - Mistry, Ritesh
AU - Stevens, Gregory D.
AU - Sareen, Harvinder
AU - De Vogli, Roberto
AU - Halfon, Neal
PY - 2007/1/7
Y1 - 2007/1/7
N2 - Objectives. We assessed whether there were associations between maternal mental health and individual and co-occurring parenting stressors related to social and financial factors and child health care access. Methods. We used cross-sectional data from the 2000 National Survey of Early Childhood Health. The 5-item Mental Health Inventory was used to measure self-reported mental health. Results. After we controlled for demographic covariates, we found that the following stressors increased the risk of poor maternal mental health: lack of emotional (odds ratio [OR] = 3.4; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.0, 5.9) or functional (OR = 2.2; 95% CI = 1.3, 3.7) social support for parenting, too much time spent with child (OR = 3.5; 95% CI = 2.0, 6.1), and difficulty paying for child care (OR = 2.3; 95% CI = 1.4, 3.9). In comparison with mothers without any parenting stressors, mothers reporting 1 stressor had 3 times the odds of poor mental health (OR = 3.1; 95% CI = 2.1, 4.8), and mothers reporting 2 or more stressors had nearly 12 times the odds (OR = 11.7; 95% CI = 7.1, 19.3). Conclusions. If parenting stressors such as those examined here are to be addressed, changes may be required in community support systems, and improvements in relevant social policies may be needed.
AB - Objectives. We assessed whether there were associations between maternal mental health and individual and co-occurring parenting stressors related to social and financial factors and child health care access. Methods. We used cross-sectional data from the 2000 National Survey of Early Childhood Health. The 5-item Mental Health Inventory was used to measure self-reported mental health. Results. After we controlled for demographic covariates, we found that the following stressors increased the risk of poor maternal mental health: lack of emotional (odds ratio [OR] = 3.4; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.0, 5.9) or functional (OR = 2.2; 95% CI = 1.3, 3.7) social support for parenting, too much time spent with child (OR = 3.5; 95% CI = 2.0, 6.1), and difficulty paying for child care (OR = 2.3; 95% CI = 1.4, 3.9). In comparison with mothers without any parenting stressors, mothers reporting 1 stressor had 3 times the odds of poor mental health (OR = 3.1; 95% CI = 2.1, 4.8), and mothers reporting 2 or more stressors had nearly 12 times the odds (OR = 11.7; 95% CI = 7.1, 19.3). Conclusions. If parenting stressors such as those examined here are to be addressed, changes may be required in community support systems, and improvements in relevant social policies may be needed.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=34548457786&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2105/AJPH.2006.088161
DO - 10.2105/AJPH.2006.088161
M3 - Article
VL - 97
SP - 1261
EP - 1268
JO - American Journal of Public Health
JF - American Journal of Public Health
SN - 0090-0036
IS - 7
ER -