Motherhood has always come with its fair share of challenges, but today’s moms are facing a new kind of pressure—one that seems to be coming from all angles, especially online. Thanks to social media and the endless stream of parenting advice (and judgment), being a mom now feels like living under a microscope. And while moms across generations are feeling the weight of modern parenthood, Gen Z moms appear to be feeling it a bit more acutely than their millennial counterparts.
Recent research suggests that being a parent today is not just exhausting—it’s taking a serious toll on moms’ mental health.
Mental Health Is Declining Among Moms—and Gen Z Is Feeling It Most
A large-scale study conducted by researchers at Columbia University and the University of Michigan followed nearly 200,000 mothers over seven years, from 2016 to 2023. The results were alarming. In 2016, only about 1 in 20 moms rated their mental health as “poor.” Fast forward to 2023, and that number jumped to 1 in 12.
In contrast, dads reported fewer mental health struggles. By 2023, only 1 in 22 dads said they were in poor mental health. The gap between how moms and dads feel is widening, and that’s worth paying attention to.
While the COVID-19 pandemic certainly didn’t help—bringing isolation, disrupted routines, and added responsibilities—the study showed that the real culprits are bigger and more persistent. Issues like unequal parenting duties, lack of family-friendly workplace policies, rising living costs, and the general unpredictability of the economy all played a role in making moms feel stretched too thin.
Read more: The One Parenting Habit That Is Silently Damaging Your Child
The Pressure to Be a “Perfect Mom” Is Heavy—Especially for Gen Z
A separate survey by the parenting site What To Expect adds more depth to the conversation. After polling over 3,200 moms from both the millennial and Gen Z generations, they found that nearly all moms feel pressure to parent flawlessly—but Gen Z moms are struggling with that pressure the most.
An overwhelming 83% of Gen Z moms admitted they aim to be the “perfect” parent, compared to 77% of millennial moms. And while no one really defines what this “perfect mom” looks like, the idea still looms large in the minds of many young mothers.
Let’s take a look at seven areas where Gen Z moms feel more anxious and overwhelmed than millennial moms.
1. Keeping Kids Constantly Entertained
Today’s parenting culture often promotes the idea that children need to be in a near-constant state of activity—whether it’s soccer practice, art lessons, or structured playdates. For Gen Z moms, this expectation is weighing heavily.
Nearly half (48%) of Gen Z moms say they feel stressed about keeping their children constantly busy with activities. Only 34% of millennial moms felt the same. This suggests that younger moms may be feeling an intense need to fill their child’s every waking moment with enrichment.
2. Making Sure Kids Have Enough Free Time, Too
In a strange paradox, Gen Z moms also worry more than millennials about making sure their kids have enough downtime. That’s right—they’re stressing about overscheduling, and about under-scheduling.
Thirty-nine percent of Gen Z moms said they’re anxious about providing their kids with plenty of unstructured free time for creativity, play, or rest. Meanwhile, only 30% of millennial moms reported the same concern. Trying to find the sweet spot between “just enough stimulation” and “not too much structure” is clearly a balancing act for younger moms.
3. Reducing Kids’ Screen Time
You might think that Gen Z, a generation raised on the internet, would be more relaxed about screen time. But the opposite is true. Half of Gen Z moms are seriously worried about limiting their children’s exposure to phones, tablets, and TVs. That’s even more than the 41% of millennial moms who said they worry about this issue.
Despite being tech-savvy, Gen Z moms seem to be very aware of the potential downsides of too much screen time—and they’re putting in more effort to reduce it.
4. Juggling Family Logistics
Behind the scenes of every family is a logistical mastermind—usually the mom. From scheduling doctor’s appointments and organizing school pick-ups to remembering birthdays and meal planning, this mental workload is a huge part of parenting that often goes unnoticed.
Here again, Gen Z moms feel the strain more than millennials. About 51% of Gen Z moms say they’re overwhelmed by managing all the moving parts of family life, compared to 42% of millennial moms. This mental juggling act, often referred to as the “invisible load,” adds a significant burden to mothers’ daily lives.
Read more: What ‘Gentle Parenting’ Really Does For Your Kids
5. Supporting Their Kids’ Identity Journeys
Today’s generation of parents is more open than ever to letting kids explore and express their identities—whether it’s related to gender, personality, interests, or beliefs. But with that openness comes uncertainty and, for many Gen Z moms, increased anxiety.
More than half (53%) of Gen Z moms said they worry about how to best support their children as they figure out who they are, versus 45% of millennial moms. This may reflect Gen Z’s stronger cultural awareness and sensitivity—but it also reveals the emotional toll of trying to raise kids in a world where identity is both fluid and deeply personal.
6. Putting Family First—At a Personal Cost
One of the biggest red flags for mental health among moms is how often they put their own needs last. While both generations of moms do this, Gen Z moms appear to struggle more with drawing boundaries between self-care and family care.
Forty-one percent of Gen Z moms said they have a hard time prioritizing their own well-being over their family’s needs. In comparison, only 33% of millennial moms reported this issue. Millennials may be more practiced at carving out personal time or simply more willing to say “no” to the constant demands.
7. Raising Resilient, Emotionally Strong Kids
Teaching kids how to bounce back from setbacks and face life’s challenges is a big parenting goal these days. But for Gen Z moms, it’s not just a goal—it’s a source of anxiety.
Sixty-four percent of Gen Z moms said they worry about helping their children develop emotional resilience, compared to 58% of millennials. This concern may be rooted in Gen Z’s own experiences. Experts have pointed out that some Gen Zers may not have had many opportunities to build coping skills, partly because their own parents tried to shield them from failure. Now, as parents themselves, they’re determined to break that cycle—but it’s easier said than done.
Growing Up Online Might Be Making Parenting Harder
Some psychologists believe that one of the reasons Gen Z moms feel so much pressure is that they’ve spent much of their lives in the online spotlight. Social media has been around for most of their adolescence and adulthood, and with that comes constant comparisons, curated perfection, and endless unsolicited advice.
Dr. Sheri Lusskin, a psychiatrist specializing in maternal mental health, believes that Gen Z’s social media upbringing may be contributing to their heightened parenting stress. When you’ve grown up being watched and judged online, it’s hard not to carry that pressure into parenting—where the stakes feel even higher.
In Summary: Gen Z Moms Are Doing Their Best—But It’s Taking a Toll
While all moms face challenges, Gen Z moms are parenting in a very different landscape—one shaped by social media, economic strain, and a growing awareness of mental health. Their desire to be nurturing, inclusive, tech-conscious, and perfectly balanced parents is admirable. But it also comes at a cost.
The solution isn’t for moms to do more—it might actually be the opposite. Letting go of the idea of perfection, asking for help, and giving themselves grace could go a long way in easing the pressure.
Because at the end of the day, what kids need most isn’t perfection. They need love, presence, and parents who are doing the best they can—and that’s more than enough.
