Stress defined by the Oxford dictionary is a demand on physical/mental energy. Stress can be sneaky like the ongoing hum of a fan that is not noticed until the relief is felt when it is turned off. It can also be after big events such as a wedding or starting school. Usually it bounces back and forth in most people and frequently it is not clearly noticed.
Unfortunately stress causes a biochemical reactions that can affect the human body, thoughts, feelings and behavior. It is associated with high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, obesity and diabetes. A discussion from the Mayo Clinic states that some of the common effects may be headache, restlessness, anger outbursts, overeating or undereating, feeling overwhelmed, sleep problems, and so on.
The U.S. Surgeon General has issued a Public Health Advisory about the high levels of stress for parents as compared to other adults. According to his 2023 data 33% of parents report high levels of stress in the past month compared to 20% of other adults. 48% of parents say that most days their stress is completely overwhelming compared to 25% among other adults.
Parents experience a lot of unique stressors from raising children such as financial strain, economic instability and poverty. Each child is expensive. Time demands occur as many parents work more hours than in 1985 and they spend more hours coordinating primary child care. The advisory says “Demands from both work and child caregiving have come at a cost of quality time with one’s partner, sleep, and parental leisure time”. Children’s health and safety cause worries in the face of climate change, pandemics, wars, plastics, etc. The report also found that 65% of parents and 77 % of single parents report feeling lonely as compared to 55% of nonparents. The impact of new technology and social media has been recognized as increasing stress in both children AND parents. Cultural pressures and worries about their children’s future are a constant stress, perhaps a low hum but constant.
Circumstances like family or community violence, poverty, racism and discrimination can increase the risk for mental health conditions. The work of parenting is essential not only for the health of children but for the health of society.
The first step to reducing stress is to recognize it is a problem. Some steps parents can control may be as simple as turning off the noisy fan. Other needed actions are more complicated and need social action such as the following: Ensuring parents have paid sick time, paid family and medical leave, ensure that parents and their children have access to comprehensive and affordable high-quality mental health care and quality child care that is appropriate for their community.
We can all reach out and offer support to parents and caregivers on a regular basis. There are lifeline resources such as the suicide and crisis lifeline (988). There is a Parent Support Network (mhanational.org/mental-health-resources-parents) that provide free local and online support meetings for any parent or guardian.
By Sally Robinson MD
University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB)
Published 09/2024