Lonely but Never Alone - An Exploration of Loneliness and Parenthood Among Young Mothers

In modern society, loneliness is a major challenge which has been identified as a key health risk factor (Holt-Luntstad et al, 2015). In the United Kingdom, over nine million people (one fifth of the population) are estimated to be always or often lonely (British Red Cross and Co-Operative, 2016). The first ever Minister for Loneliness was appointed by government in January 2018 (Gov.uk, 2018), showing this to be a current and important topic. Indeed, loneliness is viewed as a serious issue by 88% of the general public (British Red Cross and Co-Operative, 2016).
Loneliness among older people is a problem that is fairly well researched, however there is also growing evidence about loneliness among the younger population. This year, in a large-scale survey of 55,000 people in the UK, 40% of young people aged 16-24 reported themselves as lonely, making them the largest group to experience loneliness 'often' in the UK (BBC, 2018).

The transition to parenthood can also be a hugely isolating time. New mothers under the age of 25 are extremely vulnerable to loneliness. The British Red Cross and Co-Operative (2016) have in fact identified young mothers as likely to be lonely and in need of further and more specific exploration and support. They estimate that 82% of mothers under the age of 30 feel lonely some of the time, and 49% of mothers under 25 feel lonely often or always (ibid).