Abstract
BackgroundLoneliness in mothers raising children can adversely impact the health of their children and lead to child abuse, depression, and deterioration of mothers’ health. Few studies to date have specifically assessed the association between loneliness and social factors, including the use of social network sites (SNSs), and personal factors. This study aimed to identify predictors of loneliness in mothers raising children, with special reference to SNS use.MethodsThis cross-sectional study involved an anonymous self-reported questionnaire survey of mothers participating in the health check-ups for their children in Nagahama City, Japan, from July 28 to September 29, 2014. The following items were assessed: revised UCLA Loneliness Scale, “Secure” subscale of the Internal Working Model Scale (IWMS-S), psychological distress scale (K6), abbreviated Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-6), and types of communication devices and information sources. Multiple regression analysis was performed using the Loneliness Scale score as the dependent variable.ResultsAmong 763 mothers attending health check-ups for children in Nagahama City, 715 were available for the survey. Among a total of 638 respondents, data from 523 mothers were analyzed (valid response rate: 73.1%). The mean Loneliness Scale score ± standard deviation was 36.1 ± 9.7. The multiple regression analysis revealed that loneliness was significantly associated with being financially worse-off (β = − 3.35, p = 0.004) and struggling (β = − 2.47, p = 0.047); having a smaller family social network (β = − 0.32, p = 0.032), having fewer friends (β = − 0.49, p = 0.001), and having a smaller SNS network (β = − 0.21, p = 0.018); a lower secure subscale score on the IWMS-S (β = − 0.56, p < 0.001); and a K6 score of ≥5 (β = 4.24, p < 0.001).ConclusionThe degree of loneliness in mothers raising children was associated with a smaller social network, lower secure attachment style, and a higher possibility of psychological distress. These factors should be considered when developing effective interventions against loneliness in mothers raising children.
Highlights
Loneliness in mothers raising children can adversely impact the health of their children and lead to child abuse, depression, and deterioration of mothers’ health
The questionnaire contained 71 items with the following content: basic characteristics, attachment patterns, loneliness, psychological distress, social networks [4], and types of communication devices and information sources
The present study found that low support from social network sites (SNSs) friends significantly correlated with high levels of loneliness among mothers raising children, even after adjusting for economic instability, low support from family and friends, low Internal Working Model Scale (IWMS)-S score, and psychological distress
Summary
Loneliness in mothers raising children can adversely impact the health of their children and lead to child abuse, depression, and deterioration of mothers’ health. Few studies to date have assessed the association between loneliness and social factors, including the use of social network sites (SNSs), and personal factors. As nuclear families have become the more predominant family structure, and with increasingly weaker regional connections, information pertaining to childrearing is often sparse and difficult to come by, leading to concerns about loneliness in mothers raising children [11]. Mothers who experience a high degree of loneliness are likely to be depressed, which in turn leads to decreased self-esteem and poor health, and the poor health of their children and, in some cases, child abuse [12]
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