A recent study published in The Journal of Affective Disorders suggests that having children may offer some protection against bipolar disorder and major depression in women. The research, which analyzed data from a large sample of women in the United Kingdom, found that women who had children were less likely to experience these mental health conditions compared to those who did not. The study also indicates that having two children might be associated with the lowest risk of developing these disorders.
The research was conducted by a team from Soochow University, motivated by two global health trends: declining birth rates and increasing rates of mental health disorders, including bipolar disorder and depression. While the impact of childbearing on women’s physical and emotional health is well-documented, the relationship between having children and the risk of specific mental health conditions had not been extensively studied. This gap in knowledge is particularly relevant as societies face challenges related to both falling birth rates and rising mental health concerns.
To explore this issue, the researchers used data from the UK Biobank, a large health database containing information from about half a million people in the UK. The data, collected between 2006 and 2010, includes comprehensive health assessments and detailed questionnaires. For this study, the team focused on over 273,000 women who were between 37 and 73 years old at the time of enrollment. After excluding women without data on bipolar disorder, major depression, or the number of children they had, the final study group consisted of more than 55,700 women.
The researchers specifically examined the number of live births reported by each woman. Participants were asked to indicate how many children they had given birth to, and the data was cross-referenced with mental health diagnoses collected through psychological questionnaires and interviews. These diagnoses were based on established medical guidelines used by mental health professionals.
The study revealed a significant association between having live births and a lower risk of bipolar disorder and major depression. Women who had given birth had an estimated 30% lower risk of experiencing these conditions compared to those without children. The research also found a non-linear pattern between the number of live births and mental health risk. As the number of children increased from zero to two, the risk of bipolar disorder and depression decreased. However, beyond two children, the protective effect seemed to plateau, with no additional mental health benefits for women who had more than two children. In some analyses, a slight increase in risk was observed for those with more than two children, although this finding was not statistically significant.
Interestingly, the study showed some variations when examining specific subgroups of women. For instance, women who had experienced certain types of miscarriages or induced abortions, and those who did not use oral contraceptives, did not exhibit the same protective effect of live births. Nevertheless, the general finding that live births were associated with a lower risk of bipolar disorder and depression remained consistent across most subgroups.
The researchers controlled for a wide range of factors that could influence mental health, including age, education, income, ethnicity, and employment status. They also accounted for lifestyle factors such as body mass index, smoking, alcohol use, and physical activity, as well as clinical conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer. In addition, reproductive health factors such as abortion history, contraceptive use, age of menstruation, hormone replacement therapy, and ovary removal were also considered.
While the study provides valuable insights, there are limitations to consider. The data was collected at a single point in time, so the researchers cannot definitively conclude that having children directly causes a lower risk of mental illness. Although they accounted for numerous influencing factors, other unmeasured elements—such as family support or genetic predispositions—could also play a role. Additionally, the study participants were predominantly from the UK and of European descent, which means the findings may not apply universally to women in other regions or ethnic groups.
The researchers suggest that future studies should track women over a longer period to better understand how childbirth impacts mental health. Additionally, more research is needed to explore the biological, psychological, and social mechanisms that may explain the link between having children and mental health outcomes.
The study, titled “Having Two Children Might Be Best for Women’s Mental Health: Evidence from UK Biobank,” was authored by Jingfang Liu, Hao Sun, Ke Zhang, Ibrar Hussain, Yuying Wang, Hongpeng Sun, and Zaixiang Tang.
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