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Is parenthood associated with mental health?

Findings from an epidemiological community survey

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Abstract

Background

Despite some reports on a potential link between parenthood and mental health, associations have not been systematically investigated yet. The present article provides prevalence rates of the most common mental disorders for parents and non-parents. Interactions between demographic and socio-economic variables, parental status and mental health are explored.

Methods

Data from the 1998/99 German Health Survey (GHS) and its Mental Health Supplement (GHS-MHS) were analysed using logistic regression models. Analyses were restricted to participants in the age group 18 to 49 (N = 2,801). Mental disorders and syndromes were assessed with a standardized diagnostic interview (M-CIDI).

Results

Parenthood was associated with lower rates of psychiatric morbidity in general, and depressive and substance use disorders, in particular. The association between parental status and mental health was more distinct in men than in women, whereas partnership status moderated this relationship: An absence of partnership was associated with increased rates of all common mental disorders. Among non-parents, such a difference could not be found. Full-time employment, compared to part-time employment or unemployment, was linked to lower rates of the common mental disorders among fathers but not among mothers and non-parents. Age, education and income had no effects on the association between parental status and mental health.

Conclusion

Parenthood is positively associated with mental health, particularly for men. Most differences can be found for depressive and substance use disorders. Partnership seems especially important for parents since it does not affect prevalence rates of mental disorders among non-parents.

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Acknowledgements

This study was in part supported by grant 01EH970/8 (German Federal Ministry of Research, Education and Science; BMBF). Reported data on mental disorders were assessed in the Mental Health Supplement of the German Health Survey (GHS-MHS), conducted by the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich. Principal investigator was Prof. Dr. Hans-Ulrich Wittchen. Reported socio-demographic variables come from the study’s Core Survey (GHS-CS), conducted by the Robert Koch Institute, Berlin. Principal investigators of the GHS-CS were Dr. Bärbel-Maria Kurth and Dr. Wolfgang Thefeld.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Chemnitzer Str. 46, 01187, Dresden, Germany

    Sylvia Helbig Dipl.-Psych., Michael Klose & Frank Jacobi

  2. Dept. of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, Robert-Koch-Institute, Berlin, Germany

    Thomas Lampert

Authors
  1. Sylvia Helbig Dipl.-Psych.
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  2. Thomas Lampert
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  3. Michael Klose
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  4. Frank Jacobi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sylvia Helbig Dipl.-Psych..

Additional information

Data of this study are available as Public Use File from the senior author (manual and variable description in German language): Dr. Frank Jacobi, Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Chemnitzer Str. 46, D-01187 Dresden, Germany; e-mail: jacobi@psychologie.tu-dresden.de. For further information about the Core Survey (GHS-CS) and its Public Use File, please contact the Robert Koch Institute, Dr. Heribert Stolzenberg, Nordufer 20, D-13353 Berlin, Germany; e-mail: stolzenbergh@rki.de.

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Helbig, S., Lampert, T., Klose, M. et al. Is parenthood associated with mental health?. Soc Psychiat Epidemiol 41, 889–896 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-006-0113-8

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