Daily HealthBeat Tip - November 15, 2007

The parenting mind

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

It can feel sometimes like the kids are sending you around the bend. But a researcher says parents report fewer serious psychological symptoms than people who are not parents.

Mindy Herman-Stahl of RTI International in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, looked at national survey data. The people surveyed were asked about things like feeling hopeless, nervous, sad or depressed.

``Adults who were parents of children living in the home with them had lower levels of these symptoms – 8.9 percent, compared with those who were not parents was 12 percent.’’ (9 seconds)

Herman-Stahl says people can get help for these problems, and can help themselves – things like exercise, meditation, and getting social support from friends.

Her study in the American Journal of Public Health was supported by HHS’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: May, 26 2008