When Mothers Struggle, So Do Relationships: What Declining Maternal Mental Health Means for Families

This post is Part 2 of our 3-part series, "When Moms Aren’t Okay." If you missed Part 1, start here: The Mental Health of Mothers Is Declining.

When we talk about maternal mental health, we often focus on the internal experience: exhaustion, anxiety, depression. But mental health doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It lives in our relationships, our households, and our everyday interactions with the people we love most.

If a mother is experiencing poor mental health, it’s likely her relationship is feeling the impact too.

Emotional Stress is Contagious

In psychology, we know that emotional states are shared. When one partner is overwhelmed, disconnected, or emotionally depleted, the other partner often feels it, too. And if communication patterns don’t adapt to that stress, disconnection can grow.

Couples may find themselves arguing more, withdrawing, or operating like roommates instead of partners. This is especially common in the early years of parenting, when the mental load is high and sleep is scarce.

The Double Bind for Moms

For mothers, the pressure to be everything to everyone often leads to resentment or emotional shutdown. They may feel unsupported, unseen, or misunderstood by their partner—even if that partner is trying. And in turn, that partner may feel helpless or rejected.

This isn’t about blame. It’s about the conditions we’re parenting under: too little support, too few resources, and unrealistic expectations.

Connection Can Be a Protective Factor

The good news? Strong, emotionally supportive relationships can buffer against the negative effects of stress. When partners feel like a team, even in the chaos, they tend to navigate challenges better and recover more quickly from conflict.

We don’t need perfect relationships. We need emotionally responsive ones.

And the earlier couples can start learning those skills—how to stay connected, how to co-regulate, how to talk about hard things without spiraling—the more resilient they become.

➡️ Stay tuned for Part 3: Building Stronger Families from the Inside Out