New Moms Living with Parents Linked with Depression

(Ivanhoe Newswire) – Mothers who are single or married and live in a multi-generational household for their child’s first year of life are more likely to be depressed, and mothers who are cohabitating and live in a multi-generational household are less likely to be depressed.

About 7.8 million children, which accounts for 11 percent of all U.S. children, live in a multi-generational household. Researchers from Duke University examined the relationship between a mother’s marital status, their living arrangement, and her likelihood of depression. They found mothers who were single or married suffered from higher rates of depression, and mothers who were simply cohabitating suffered from lower rates. The trend was consistent along classes, but varied by race. For example, Latina single mothers were six times more likely to be depressed if they lived at home.

"We often talk about families in terms of mothers, fathers and children," lead author Joy Piontak, a research analyst with the Duke University Center for Child and Family Policy was quoted as saying. "Or we talk about the marital status of the mothers. Families are often a lot more complex than we imagine them to be, though. And that complexity can affect mothers' well-being."

For more information, go to: http://today.duke.edu/2014/04/depressmom

SOURCE: Journal of Family Issues, April 2014