Abstract

There is evidence of an overall decline in maternal mental health in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is also heterogeneity in maternal responses. A latent transition analysis was conducted to identify profiles of anxiety, depression, and stress among 289 low-income mothers. Using these identified profiles, we examined the transitional patterns between profiles before and during COVID-19 and the sociodemographic and familial factors related to these profiles. A three-profile solution was identified prior to COVID-19, and a four-profile solution during COVID-19, with some profiles exhibiting qualitatively different defining characteristics. Latent transition analyses found diverse patterns of mental health shifts after the onset of COVID-19. However, mothers with better mental health prior to COVID-19 tended to have the most stable mental health during COVID-19. In contrast, mothers who were highly stressed prior to COVID-19 were equally likely to improve or decline after the onset of the pandemic. In addition, the relationships between ethnicity, parenting practices, child temperament, and mental health were significantly related to maternal mental health. These findings describe mothers' experiences and areas where policymakers and practitioners can tailor support to low-income mothers.