Clarifying the Relationship Between Parenthood and Depression
Top Cited Papers
- 1 December 2005
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Journal of Health and Social Behavior
- Vol. 46 (4), 341-358
- https://doi.org/10.1177/002214650504600403
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.This publication has 34 references indexed in Scilit:
- Age and DepressionJournal of Health and Social Behavior, 1992
- Parenthood and Psychological Well-Being Among the Formerly MarriedJournal of Family Issues, 1989
- The Effects of Children on Adults' Psychological Well-Being: 1957-1976Social Forces, 1989
- Changing Values and Falling Birth RatesPopulation and Development Review, 1986
- Will U.S. Fertility Decline Toward Zero?The Sociological Quarterly, 1980
- Remarriage as an Incomplete InstitutionAmerican Journal of Sociology, 1978
- Toward a Theory of Role AccumulationAmerican Sociological Review, 1974