Abstract
BackgroundLoneliness in mothers raising children under 3 years of age is a major challenge. The purpose of this study was to identify the individual, family, and community factors associated with loneliness among mothers raising children under 3 years of age with social isolation as a mediator.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted using anonymous self-administered questionnaires. The target population was all 649 mothers of children under 3 years of age visiting a public health center in Yokohama City and eligible for child health examinations between November 2019 and February 2020. The study measures included loneliness (10-item version of the UCLA Loneliness Scale), social isolation (Lubben Social Network Scale [LSNS-6]), demographic data, individual factors, family factors, and community factors from an ecological systems model. Social isolation was classified based on the LSNS-6 cutoff points. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to examine the association between loneliness and individual, family, and community factors with social isolation as a mediator.ResultsA total of 531 participants (81.8% response rate) responded, and 492 (75.8% valid response rate) were included in the analysis. Loneliness was significantly higher in the isolated group (n = 171, 34.8%) than in the non-isolated group (n = 321, 65.2%) (mean = 22.3, SD = 5.6 and mean = 17.6, SD = 4.6, respectively). Factors associated with high loneliness included individual and family factors (a high number of parenting and life concerns [β = 0.211, p < 0.01], not eating breakfast every day [β = 0.087, p < 0.05], and fewer partners’ supportive behaviors for household duties and childcare [β = − 0.240, p < 0.001]) and community factors (fewer people to consult about parenting [β = − 0.104, p < 0.01] and low community commitment [β = − 0.122, p < 0.05]) with social isolation as a mediator.ConclusionReferral to a counseling organization to alleviate worries about parenting and the creation of a child-rearing environment to enhance the recognition of the community may be considered. These findings could help develop intervention programs for the prevention or alleviation of loneliness experienced by mothers and prevent the associated health risks among mothers and child outcomes.
Highlights
Loneliness in mothers raising children under 3 years of age is a major challenge
This study examined the association between loneliness and individual, family, and community factors in mothers raising children less than 3 years of age with social isolation as a mediator
This study extended the range of the factors associated with loneliness and clarified individual factors and community factors that have not previously been focused upon when studying loneliness among mothers
Summary
Loneliness in mothers raising children under 3 years of age is a major challenge. The purpose of this study was to identify the individual, family, and community factors associated with loneliness among mothers raising children under 3 years of age with social isolation as a mediator. Mothers with infants and toddlers are at higher risk for loneliness in Japan compared with other OECD countries. This is due to the trend toward nuclear families and the weakening of community ties as well as the fact that fathers are less likely to participate in childcare and mothers have to bear more responsibility and childcare burden [10].
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