Mothers’ Feelings of Loneliness: Prevalence, Risk Factors and Longitudinal Associations with Depressive Symptoms and Child Adjustment

Abstract

IntroductionIn earlier studies, loneliness strongly correlates with depression and depressive symptoms. Longitudinal studies are rare.ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to investigate in a longitudinal setting the prevalence and risk factors of maternal loneliness as well as the associations between maternal loneliness, depressive symptoms and child's subsequent psychosocial adjustment.MethodsMothers’ reports of loneliness were explored in a sample of 133 mothers during pregnancy (T1) and when the firstborns were 8-9 years old (T2). Maternal depressive symptoms were screened with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at three time points: T1, T2 and at 16-17 years of child's age (T3). Child psychosocial adjustment was assessed with the Child Behavior Checklists (CBCLs) at T2 and T3 and with the Youth Self Reports (YSRs) completed by the adolescents at T3.ResultsThe prevalence of loneliness (sometimes, often or always) was 36% at T1 and 32% at T2. Loneliness during pregnancy was associated with physical illness or disability, weaker life satisfaction and change in the pair relationship. Lonely mothers reported higher levels of depressive symptoms simultaneously and longitudinally. Mothers reporting loneliness at T1 and/or T2 showed higher depressive symptom levels at T1, T2 and T3 and reported more emotional and behavioural problems in their child at T2 and T3. The adolescents also reported more problems if the mother had reported loneliness at T1 and/or T2.ConclusionsLoneliness is common among mothers and co-occurs, predicts and is predicted by depressive symptoms. It may expose the children to poorer psychosocial outcomes.

Prevalence and factors associated with maternal loneliness during the postpartum period in Gondar city

“…This will have a positive impact on the low proportion of loneliness in this study. However, the result of this study is higher than studies conducted in Finland-32% [30], Canada-20% [28], and the United Kingdom-27% [12]. The possible explanation for the discrepancy might be due to variations in measuring the outcome variable and participant's characteristics.…”

Individual, family, and community factors related to loneliness in mothers raising children less than 3 years of age: a cross-sectional study

“…Particularly, mothers staying at home with young children have been identified as a high-risk population for loneliness [ 4 , 5 ]. One previous longitudinal study showed the prevalence of loneliness among mothers was between 34 and 38% [ 6 ], and it was associated with both mothers’ depression and children’s adjustment [ 6 , 7 ]. The stability of mothers’ social and emotional loneliness was high from pregnancy until their child was 18 months old [ 8 , 9 ].…”

An interpretative phenomenological analysis of mothers’ negative experiences and emotions during early motherhood

“…Other factors considered to contribute to loneliness include perceived deviations from social 'norms' and perceived discrepancy between idealised and actual notions of motherhood both of which were identified with by the mothers in this study (Lee et al, 2017). Loneliness is considered a salient emotion found in motherhood (Yantzi et al, 2007) and the degree of loneliness felt correlates with a smaller social network, and psychological distress (Mandai, Kaso, Takahaski & Nakayama, 2018;Hawthorne, 2008;Luoma, Korhonen, Salmelin & Tamminen;. A pilot study revealed that offering regular support seemed to impact positively on mothers' mental health and on her relationship with her baby (Cust, 2016) and therefore extending support to mothers who are socially isolated may prevent feelings of loneliness and psychological distress.…”