Elevated Depression Symptoms, Elevated Anxiety Symptoms, and Frequent Loneliness Among US Adults With Children in Their Household: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of National Survey Data

PurposeTo examine demographic, socioeconomic, and family characteristics associated with elevated depression and anxiety symptoms and frequent loneliness among US adults with children.DesignCross-sectional survey.SettingUS Census Household Pulse Survey (July-September 2024).SubjectsUS adults with 1 or more children (0-17 years) in their household (N = 31 063, representing approximately 87 million US adults with children).MeasuresParticipants completed the Patient Health Questionnaire for Depression and Anxiety (PHQ-4); scores of 3+ out of 6 indicated elevated depression and anxiety symptoms, respectively. Participants reported how often they feel lonely. Frequent loneliness was indicated by responses of "always" or "usually" (versus "sometimes", "rarely", or "never"). Participants reported several demographic, socioeconomic, and family characteristics.AnalysisWe used unadjusted logistic regression models to compare the proportion of US adults with children experiencing elevated depression symptoms, elevated anxiety symptoms, or frequent loneliness by demographic, socioeconomic, and family characteristics. Analyses were weighted to represent US adults living with children.ResultsAmong US adults with children, 14.2% (SE: 0.4%) reported elevated depression symptoms, 19.2% (SE: 0.5%) reported elevated anxiety symptoms, and 13.5% (SE: 0.4%) reported usually or always feeling lonely; prevalences differed by several demographic, socioeconomic, and family characteristics.ConclusionsCollecting nationally-representative data about families is critical to inform efforts to support the mental and physical health of US parents and other adults who care for children.