Millennial Moms Are the Most Resentful: Poll

Millennial mothers are more mentally exhausted and more resentful than moms in any other generation, according to a new national poll.

The survey of 2,000 American mothers, developed in partnership with the Talker Research survey group for It's a Family Thing (IAFT), revealed that nearly half of millennial moms described themselves as mentally drained, and 19 percent said they feel resentful. That was roughly three times the rate reported by baby boomer mothers.

Why It Matters

The findings suggest that while motherhood has changed across generations, the burden of managing family life still falls disproportionately on moms.

Researchers suggest that constantly planning, reminding, and coordinating household and family needs can take a toll on women's careers and relationships. As millennials now make up the largest share of parents with children at home, rising resentment could have ripple effects across workplaces and long-term economic outcomes for women.

What To Know

While millennials experience high rates of burnout and resentment, both Gen X and millennial mothers said personal time is their number one need, according to the survey. However, millennial moms are also more likely to want more help from family, it found.

Millennial moms stood out for feeling both overloaded and under‑recognized. Nearly half of respondents said they crave rest and recharge time, and 48 percent described themselves as "spa‑obsessed."

Yet 40 percent of all moms surveyed said that when the household runs smoothly, no one gets credit, suggesting that the behind‑the‑scenes work of managing family life often goes unnoticed.

“This kind of work is often unseen, but it matters," Dr. Ana Catalano Weeks, a political scientist in the Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies at the University of Bath, told Powers Health about a study on a similar topic. “It can lead to stress, burnout and even impact women's careers. In many cases, resentment can build, creating strain between couples.

That invisible work is especially draining for mothers of younger children. According to the poll, these moms lose the equivalent of 20 full workdays each year simply reminding family members about tasks or responsibilities they have already asked them to handle.

Jolie Silva, Ph.D., a psychologist and chief operating officer at New York Behavioral Health, previously told Newsweek the pressure to “have it all” is impacting millennial mothers today.

“Millennial mothers were raised in a climate of women’s empowerment-to climb the corporate ladder, be entrepreneurs, become highly educated, and make their own money. Most of these women also wanted to be moms and perhaps weren’t presented with the realities of ‘the hardest job,'” Silva told Newsweek.

Today, not many career-driven women in their early 20s fully grasp the mental burden and time demands of having their first child.

“And the realities of being a working mother do not become apparent until they are in the thick of it. And then what? They need the money; they need to raise their kids; they are often tormented by mom guilt and torn in too many directions,” Silva said.

The survey was commissioned by IAFT, an AI‑powered family app founded by Priya Rajendran, a former PayPal engineer. The app is designed to distribute household tasks across family members so mothers are not stuck managing both the home and the system meant to organize it.

What Happens Next

While the survey focuses on maternal resentment, its implications extend beyond individual households.

“The emotional toll of this multifaceted role cannot be overstated. Mothers often bear the weight of anticipating their family’s needs, creating a pervasive sense of obligation that can become overwhelmingly exhausting,” United Kingdom-based psychologist Ieva Kubiliute previously told Newsweek.

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This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 1:04 PM.