Exploring perinatal loneliness as a key social determinant of perinatal mental ill health in the UK (Adlington, 2025)
Full title: Exploring perinatal loneliness as a key social determinant of perinatal mental ill health in the UK: findings from a multidisciplinary consensus statement exercise that mapped knowledge about measurement, prevalence, antecedents, impacts and interventions
Ruth Naughton-Doe, Rebecca Nowland, Jacqueline Kent-Marvick, Phoebe McKenna-Plumley, Emily Lovett, Thuy-Vy Nguyen, Lindsay Hunter, Nicola Wallis, Florence Gaughan, Katie Hall, Corinna Colella, Suzanne Wilson, Katherine Adlington, Elizabeth Taylor Buck, Sarah Shemery, Naomi Finch, Catrin Noone
BMJ Open 2025 May 31;15(5)
Objectives: New parents are at increased risk of loneliness, which adversely affects parental and infant health and well-being and has been linked to an increased likelihood of parental mental illness. In the UK, perinatal mental illness is estimated to cost £8.1bn a year, predominantly due to lasting poor health and developmental consequences for children. The purpose of this consensus statement is to determine the state of this research field, highlighting key issues for researchers, policymakers and those responsible for perinatal mental health services and interventions. We will also highlight knowledge gaps to be addressed in future perinatal loneliness research.