Parenting Stress Is a Health Problem – US Surgeon General Advisory Report

If you’re a stressed-out parent, you’re not alone. According to a new surgeon general advice A study published Wednesday found that parents have experienced higher levels of stress than adults without children over the past decade.

“The work of parenting is essential not only to the health of children, but also to the health of society,” writes U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, himself a 47-year-old father of two. “We know that the well-being of parents and caregivers is directly linked to the well-being of their children.”

According to the advice, parents are overworked and also spend a lot of time on childcare. “The demands of both work and childcare have come at the expense of quality time with your partner, sleep and free time for parents,” the advice says.

The report focuses on the mental health of the 63 million parents of children in the U.S. and its implications for their children’s well-being. “Parental mental health can affect the emotional climate, responsiveness, and consistency of care at home, all of which are critical to a child’s emotional and cognitive development,” the report says. “Children of parents with mental illness may face increased risks, including symptoms of depression and anxiety and for earlier onset, recurrence, and long-term functional impairment from mental illness.”

A Survey 2023 of adults from the American Psychological Association found that 33 percent of parents reported high levels of stress, compared with 20 percent of other adults, according to Murthy’s report. Nearly half of the parents surveyed reported overwhelming stress most days, compared with 26 percent of other adults. And according to research from health insurer Cigna, 65 percent of parents said they were lonely — 10 percentage points more than those without children.

Some of the biggest stressors for parents include financial worries, concerns about the safety of children, anxiety about the lack of time away from work, and fears about children’s unhealthy relationships with social media and technology. “Nearly 70% of parents say parenting is more difficult now than it was 20 years ago, with children’s use of technology and social media being the two most cited reasons,” the report said.

Possible solutions include policy changes and personal behavior. The report urges government reforms, including expanded access to paid parental leave and access to mental health programs. It also recommends workplace reforms, such as training managers “in stress management and work-life harmony” and “access to comprehensive, affordable, high-quality mental health care.”

In 2023, Murthy published an advisory calling loneliness an “epidemic” and outlining ways individuals can seek connection. Similarly, the Surgeon General’s report on parental mental health encourages parents to seek social support, talk openly with friends about the stresses of parenting, and acknowledge “how mental health issues manifest and seek help when needed.”