(NewsNation) — A new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine reveals a troubling decline in mental health among mothers in the United States.

Researchers from Columbia University and the University of Michigan discovered a significant decline in the percentage of mothers who reported “excellent” mental health from 2016 to 2023.

The study utilized data from nearly 200,000 mothers participating in the National Survey of Children’s Health, a comprehensive survey that reflects the health trends of households with children nationwide. The majority of these mothers were over the age of 30 and had children under 18 years old.

Key findings highlighted a decrease in the number of mothers reporting “excellent” mental health, dropping from 38% in 2016 to 26% in 2023. Similarly, reports of “excellent” physical health witnessed a decline, falling from 28% to 24%.

Additionally, the number of mothers rating their mental health as “fair/poor” increased from 5.5% to 9%, a 63.6% increase.

“Although high rates of maternal morbidity and mortality have been well documented, national data on the health status of mothers beyond pregnancy and the first year postpartum is lacking,” said Jamie Daw, an assistant professor of health policy and management at Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health. 

The study revealed that the decline in mental health started before the COVID-19 pandemic and was observed across nearly every socioeconomic subgroup examined.

Researchers warned the impact extends beyond the mothers themselves, citing links between poor parental mental health and increased risks of developmental delays, behavioral issues and other challenges among children.