A new study has uncovered a disturbing new trend of declining mental and physical health among US mothers.

JAMA International Medicine studied nearly 200,000 mothers of children ages 17 and younger for the study, which was released in May.

Researchers found that between 2016 and 2023, American mothers self-reported large declines in mental health and small declines in physical health.

“Mental health declines occurred across all socioeconomic subgroups; however, mental and physical health status was significantly lower for single female parents, those with lower educational attainment, and those with publicly insured children,” researchers wrote.

The study showed that only 25.8% of mothers reported “excellent” mental health in 2023, down from 38.4% in 2016. Mothers also reported lower physical health: those who reported their health as just “good” rose from 18.8% to 26.1% and “fair/poor” rose from 5.5% to 8.5%.

According to researchers, the maternal health crisis in America has led to increases in maternal mortality and “stark inequities in pregnancy-related deaths by race, geography, and socioeconomic status.”

The US Surgeon General issued an advisory in 2024 about “Parents Under Pressure,” saying that the crisis is a critical public health challenge that requires immediate national attention. The Surgeon General said parents are under rising levels of stress post-pandemic, especially for those of low socioec