Rewards and Costs of Being a Mother: Motherhood and Women's Mental Health in China

Xiangpo Chen

China & World Economy, 2025, vol. 33, issue 3, 271-294

Abstract: Women's well‐being has gained increasing importance in global health agendas. This study employed longitudinal data from 36,144 women in China from 2010 to 2018 to investigate the impact of motherhood on women's mental health. Using a model that incorporated interactions between time trends and individual and household characteristics, the study revealed that women with newborns generally reported higher levels of mental well‐being. However, those with toddlers aged 3–6 were more likely to experience symptoms of depression. The impact of motherhood on mental health was shaped by the interplay between the emotional benefits linked to hormonal changes and the emotional costs associated with childcare obligations. Access to supportive childcare services can help women alleviate the stresses of maternal responsibility, thereby enhancing their mental well‐being. When adequate resources are available, motherhood may not pose significant challenges to women's mental health.

Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bla:chinae:v:33:y:2025:i:3:p:271-294

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