According to a recent assessment of the literature conducted by UCL experts, loneliness frequently causes depression in expecting and new moms.
According to the researchers, those who interact with expectant mothers, such as in antenatal classes or consultations, should be aware of the significance of loneliness and the need of promoting new moms’ creation and maintenance of healthy social relationships. According to the research, more family and medical support may be beneficial in easing the negative effects of loneliness on mental health.
The meta-synthesis (an evidence review employing a systematic methodology) of qualitative research, which was published in the journal BMC Psychiatry, combined the experiences of 537 women from 27 study publications across four continents.
One in five women experience depression in the first three months after giving birth and one in six pregnant women experience it during this time. Depression during this time can have a significant negative impact on the quality of life of new parents as well as long-term negative effects on the cognitive and emotional development of their child.
Although there hasn’t been much study particularly looking at loneliness in prenatal depression, the authors of this evaluation of the literature discovered that loneliness consistently emerged as a major contributing factor.
One in five women experience depression in the first three months after giving birth and one in six pregnant women experience it during this time. Depression during this time can have a significant negative impact on the quality of life of new parents as well as long-term negative effects on the cognitive and emotional development of their child.
