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Updated: Feb 24, 2026

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect
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A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect

Published on: September 22, 2023

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'Lonely within the mother': An exploratory study of first-time mothers' experiences of loneliness

Katharine Lee1, Konstantina Vasileiou1, Julie Barnett1

  • 1University of Bath, UK.

Journal of Health Psychology
|August 11, 2017
PubMed

Loneliness is associated with life transitions such as new motherhood, yet there are few studies investigating the issue in this population. Using data from semi-structured interviews and an interpretative phenomenological analysis, this exploratory study sought to understand seven new mothers' experiences of loneliness. Experiences were organised around three themes, reflecting loneliness arising from making unfavourable self-comparisons with perceived mothering 'norms', from reduced social contact and relationships lacking in empathy. Accounts were homogeneous and point to potential solutions to ameliorate loneliness in new mothers; encouraging empathy in new mothers' partners and countering prevalent unrealistic representations of motherhood with more pragmatic accounts.

Keywords:
breastfeedinghealth psychologyinterpretative phenomenological analysislonelinessqualitative methodswomen’s health

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