Young people with mental disorders less likely to become parents, reveals research

Using Finnish register data from over 1,2 million participants, the study found that both young men and women diagnosed with mental disorders are less likely to become parents compared to those without such diagnoses. The strongest associations were found for schizophrenia: persons diagnosed with this disorder were highly unlikely to have their first child by age 39 years.

Common mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety, also reduced the likelihood of parenthood. For example, men diagnosed with depression were 38% less likely to become fathers compared to those without depression diagnosis. Among women, depression was associated with 19% lower likelihood of becoming a mother when compared to persons without depression disorder diagnosis. The similar difference between men and women were also observed for anxiety disorder.

“The differences between men and women were clear for many disorders, with men having a lower likelihood of having a first child compared to women with the same disorder”, says Dr. Kateryna Golovina, university researcher and first author of the study.

The role of partnership status

The study also explored the role of partnership status in the link between mental disorders and parenthood. Since stable relationships are often a key factor in having children, difficulties in forming or maintaining partnerships may partially explain lower parenthood rates among people with mental disorders.

“We found a clear pattern: men with mental disorders were significantly less likely to cohabit than women with similar diagnoses”, says Associate Professor Christian Hakulinen, PI of the project.

The importance of accessible mental health services

The findings highlight the need for accessible, high-quality mental health services for young people. Providing long-term support may be particularly crucial in helping people with mental disorders navigate life decisions, including family formation.

“Our research underscores the importance of well-functioning mental health services with low-threshold access, ensuring young people receive the support they need for both their well-being and life aspirations,” says Kateryna Golovina.

Reference:

Kateryna Golovina, Ripsa Niemi, Mai Gutvilig, Markus Jokela, Marko Elovainio, Christian Hakulinen, Mental Disorders and Having a First Child Among Young Adults: A Nationwide Register-Based Cohort Study, BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.18151.