New mothers get less than one hour of "me time" daily, study finds.
New mothers get less than an hour of restful personal time daily, leading to higher stress and lower well-being.
Why it matters
- Lack of personal time for new mothers is linked to higher stress and lower mental well-being.
- The study highlights the need for greater support for new parents, especially those without nearby support.
By the numbers
- New mothers have about an hour of restful time per day.
- Around 60% of their day is spent at home doing childcare.
- Personal time is often fragmented and overlaps with chores.
The big picture
- Support services, like government-subsidized help with chores and cooking, could ease the burden on new parents.
- Loneliness in new mothers can stem from loss of personal identity and lack of meaningful social connections.
What they're saying
- Commenters note that this issue is exacerbated by the demands of breastfeeding and the broader pressures of capitalism.
- Others emphasize the need for more support for new mothers, especially those without family help.
Caveats
- The study focuses on the experiences of new mothers and may not generalize to all parents.
- The data is based on self-reports and observations, which can have biases.
What’s next
- Further research could explore the effectiveness of different types of support services for new parents.
- Policymakers could consider implementing programs to provide more assistance to new mothers.