ArticleInternational journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being2026
The transition to motherhood: a qualitative study of new mothers' experiences of loneliness and associated challenges.
Article in International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- "Motherhood is a work in progress": a qualitative longitudinal study of maternal subjectivity and well-being of women in the Bukhali trial in Soweto, South Africa.Frontiers in global women's health · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeMotherhood is widely recognized as a profound developmental life event, encompassing physical recovery, life and identity reorganization, and new caregiving responsibilities, but the emergence of loneliness in new mothers remains under-researched. The aim of this study was to explore new mothers' experiences of loneliness and associated challenges.
methodsA qualitative exploratory design and content analysis were conducted. Interviews were conducted with ten first-, second- and third-time mothers.
resultsThe analysis generated three main categories: 1. Social dimensions of loneliness, 2. Emotional dimensions of loneliness, 3. Existential dimensions of loneliness. DISCUSSION: Loneliness among new mothers is a multidimensional experience encompassing social, emotional, and existential dimensions. Loneliness may arise from changes in social relationships, challenges within partner relationships, and the profound identity transition associated with becoming a mother. Additionally, participants described existential aspects of loneliness, including feeling overlooked as individuals and experiencing a disruption in their sense of self during the transition to motherhood.
conclusionAs seen in our findings, social, emotional, and existential loneliness can be associated with becoming a new mother. Preventive measures should be considered, such as low-threshold counseling services for new mothers and partners, aimed at supporting the well-being of the entire family.
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