Having Kids at Home May Reduce Depression.

• Position: PANDEMIC

Kids have struggled throughout the pandemic--from attending school by Zoom video conferencing to quarantining from family and friends--but having children at home may help adults feel less distressed.

In a University of Michigan study, adults in households with children were shown to have fewer mental health problems than other adults living without kids. Child care--beyond the effect of larger household size--actually may reduce depression during pandemic social isolation, the findings show.

"In other words, parents/caregivers may be struggling, but not more so than everyone else," says study lead author Shawna Lee, associate professor at the School of Social Work, director of the Parenting in Context Research Lab, and faculty associate at the Research Center for Group Dynamics.

Lee and colleagues say they believe it is possible that caring for children may provide increased social connections or an enhanced sense of purpose, both of which may contribute to improved mental...