Dynamic pathways of maternal well-being: A longitudinal latent class analysis of risk and adaptive trajectories in low-income families

Maternal well-being is shaped by a dynamic interplay of structural, relational, and psychological factors, yet most research has examined risk processes across broad economic ranges rather than within families experiencing persistent disadvantage. Grounded in ecological systems, family stress, and resilience theories, this longitudinal study examined patterns of risk and resilience among 634 very low-income, racially diverse (25.6% White, 36.4% Black, 24.8% Asian, 11.4% Other) families, 43% of whom were single-parent households. Using latent class analysis, we identified four distinct maternal profiles based on mental health symptoms, parenting practices, parental conflict, and economic and demographic characteristics: (1) Cumulative Economic and Family Disadvantage (N = 137), (2) Relational Conflict with Relative Economic Stability (N = 163), (3) Adaptive Functioning Amid Family Disadvantage (N = 185), and (4) Stable Well-Being with Relative Economic Stability (N = 149). Analyses examining change in mental health from Time 1 to Time 2 revealed significant class-by-time interactions, indicating that maternal mental health trajectories varied across classes – some improving despite adversity, others declining despite initial advantage. Findings highlight the dynamic and heterogenous nature of maternal well-being and underscore the importance of contextual factors in shaping mental health trajectories among families experiencing economic disadvantage.