If we told you that parents are feeling burnt out, lonely, and isolated, that wouldn’t exactly be breaking news—hello, we survived a pandemic with our kids, people! But now there’s factual evidence that parents are indeed feeling all those things, perhaps more so today than ever before.

A new study conducted by Ohio State University that surveyed more than 1,000 moms and dads across the U.S. reports that 66% of them expressed having feelings of loneliness due to the demands of parenting. There are a lot of factors at play here, including that parents are still reeling from the loneliness of the pandemic where many of us were working and juggling childcare. Meanwhile, some moms and dads are still working from home and therefore interacting less with colleagues and other adults.

Additionally, though now in-person daycare, schooling, and camps have resumed, most parents merely make small-talk at pick-up or drop-off, which isn’t really the time or place to hang out with friends or forge meaningful relationships.

The research was led by Kate Gawlik, a mom of four and an associate clinical professor at the Ohio State University College of Nursing in Columbus.

“Loneliness has been shown to affect both your physical and mental health,” Gawlik says. “So anything from cardiovascular disease to depression, anxiety, cognitive decline, even your immune system can be affected when you're lonely. In fact, one study showed if you are in social isolation for a prolonged amount of time, it's equivalent to smoking about 15 cigarettes a day.”

Experts tell CNN that parents in particular feel so alone because we pour so much energy into our kids that there’s little left for ourselves when all is said and done. They describe burnout as an “intense feeling of exhaustion,” one most parents are familiar with but are now experiencing in droves.

A few more interesting stats to note from the study:   

• About 62% of respondents feel burned out by their responsibilities as a parent 

• Nearly 38% feel they have no one to support them in their parenting role  

• Nearly 79% would value a way to connect with other parents outside of work and home

So, what can parents do to assuage these feelings? Of course, connecting with other parents is key to maintaining your sanity (and your social skills, to be honest). If you don’t work an in-person job where you can regularly engage in adult conversations, try joining local parenting groups or meet-ups, booking your kids for sports or classes where you can meet other parents, and/or getting involved with community or religious organizations in your neighborhood.

It’s also key to stay connected to your partner, if you have one, experts advise. Book a sitter for the night and enjoy a date night with your significant other or a girls’ or boys’ night out with some old friends. 

Most importantly, though, Gawlik says it’s important to realize that it’s not just you who feels burnt out and isolated when it comes to parenting. Assemble your “village,” as they say, and hopefully you’ll soon feel more supported and less alone.

What do you think of this study? Why do you think parents these days are so burnt out?

Email us or give us a shout on our socials. We’re all ears👂!  And if you enjoyed this article, sign up for our weekly newsletter below, with tips, tricks, and trends coming to your inbox every Sunday morning.