“I got all sorts of solitude, but that solitude wasn’t mine”: A Mixed-Methods Approach to Understanding Aloneness during Becoming A Mother

This research examined the nuanced experiences of "aloneness" among British first-time mothers, highlighting the impact of motherhood on new mothers’ solitude. Utilizing a mixed-method approach, for Study 1 we conducted qualitative interviews to explore mothers' perceptions and experiences of solitude and loneliness after becoming a mother. Study 2 tracked daily activities and emotional states through ecological momentary assessments to identify activity predictors of mothers’ daily emotional and psychological well-being. The findings indicate that motherhood significantly reduces opportunities for personal time due to constant childcare demands; however, Study 2 showed that personal time contributed positively to mothers’ daily mood. Interestingly, personal time does not require separation from the baby; such time overlaps with time for rest and relaxation, time for media-related activities, and quality time with the baby. As such, the study underscores the importance of supporting first-time mothers in finding quality personal time to mitigate the challenges of new parenthood.