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Depression, parenthood, and age at first birth

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  • Mirowsky, John
  • Ross, Catherine E.

Abstract

This study tests the hypothesis that the correlation between current depression and parenthood depends on the age at first birth for adults. An early first birth suggests a poor start in life. It may reflect a disordered transition from adolescence into adulthood and may itself disrupt that transition, with life long consequences that influence emotional well-being. To test the hypothesis we analyze data from a 1995 survey of 2592 US 18 through 95. Among the parents we find a generally negative association between age at first birth and recent feelings and signs of depression, adjusting for age, sex, minority status, and education of the respondent's parents. Respondents who had a first birth before age 23 report more feelings and signs of depression than do nonparents; those who had a first birth after age 23 report fewer than do nonparents. The association between depression and age at first birth is monotonic for males but parabolic for females. The age at first birth associated with the lowest predicted depression for females is around 30. Regression analyses indicate that several correlates account for the apparent psychological benefits of delaying first birth: later first marriages, higher educational attainment, lower risk of having had a prolonged period needing a job but not being able to find one, lower risk of having had periods lacking the money for household necessities, and better current physical health. For women, health consequences limit the emotional benefits of prolonged delay of the first birth.

Suggested Citation

  • Mirowsky, John & Ross, Catherine E., 2002. "Depression, parenthood, and age at first birth," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 54(8), pages 1281-1298, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:54:y:2002:i:8:p:1281-1298
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    Cited by:

    1. Grundy, Emily & Kravdal, Øystein, 2010. "Fertility history and cause-specific mortality: A register-based analysis of complete cohorts of Norwegian women and men," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 70(11), pages 1847-1857, June.
    2. Shepherd, Debra L., 2022. "Food insecurity, depressive symptoms, and the salience of gendered family roles during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).
    3. Pınar Mine Güneş, 2016. "The effects of teenage childbearing on long-term health in the US: a twin-fixed-effects approach," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 14(4), pages 891-920, December.
    4. Maligana Mathe, 2017. "Socio-demographic factors affecting utilization of Antenatal Care Services in Botswana," International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, vol. 7(9), pages 477-520, September.
    5. Conway, Anne & Waldfogel, Jane & Wang, Yi, 2018. "Parent education and income gradients in children's executive functions at kindergarten entry," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 329-337.
    6. Adedokun Olaide & Adeyemi Oluwagbemiga & Adeniyi Bolajoko & Olowe Kolawole, 2022. "Men’s Involment in Contraceptives Use and Wellbeing of Women in Nigeria: Implications for FP2020," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(3), pages 21582440221, September.
    7. Stefanie Sperlich & Sonja Arnhold-Kerri & Siegfried Geyer, 2011. "What accounts for depressive symptoms among mothers? The impact of socioeconomic status, family structure and psychosocial stress," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 56(4), pages 385-396, August.
    8. Carlson, Daniel L., 2011. "Explaining the curvilinear relationship between age at first birth and depression among women," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 72(4), pages 494-503, February.
    9. Katherine Keenan & Emily Grundy, 2019. "Fertility History and Physical and Mental Health Changes in European Older Adults," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 35(3), pages 459-485, July.
    10. Jake J. Hays, 2023. "Multipartner Fertility and Psychological Distress: Evidence for Social Selection," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 42(3), pages 1-30, June.
    11. Mossakowski, Krysia N., 2011. "Unfulfilled expectations and symptoms of depression among young adults," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(5), pages 729-736, September.
    12. Kruk, Kai Eberhard & Reinhold, Steffen, 2014. "The effect of children on depression in old age," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 1-11.
    13. Bettina Casad & Amy Marcus-Newhall & Brandon Nakawaki & Alian Kasabian & Judith LeMaster, 2012. "Younger Age at First Childbirth Predicts Mothers’ Lower Economic and Psychological Well-Being Later in Life," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 33(4), pages 421-435, December.

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