DURHAM, N.C., April 4 (UPI) -- Almost half of all U.S. children born to single mothers will spend at least some time living in a multi-generational household, but a researcher says living with grandparents may increase the risk of depression.
Lead author Joy Piontak, a research analyst with the Duke University Center for Child and Family Policy, said during an infant's first year of life married or single new moms living with grandparents have higher rates of depression.
The findings were the same across all economic classes -- wealthy, poor and middle-class women -- but Latina single mothers had the highest rates of depression.
The study used data from a nationally representative sample of nearly 3,000 married, single and co-habiting new mothers.
Almost 8 million U.S. children, or 11 percent of all U.S. children, live in multi-generational households and nearly half of all children born to single mothers spend some time living with their grandparents. Piontak said the increased rates of depression among new moms living with family might be due to differing expectations and stigmas.
“There’s a strong expectation that married couples will be economically self-sufficient,” Piontak said in a statement. “Those are strong cultural values. So there could be a stronger sense of failure among married couples if they have to live with their parents."
[Duke University]
