New research by Vitabiotics Pregnacare has found that one in ten parents say they have no support network, with modern parents struggling to build a 'village' around them. The study highlights the challenges faced by families in the current climate, where traditional community structures are often absent.
The reasons cited for the lack of support include demanding work lives, not living near family members, being fearful of asking for help, a lack of tight-knit local communities, and smaller family networks. These factors contribute to feelings of isolation and burnout, even among parents who are married.
To cope, 56 per cent of parents have turned to online platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp to create a 'digital village'. However, clinical psychologist Dr Tara Porter warns that this can have negative effects. 'The internet can fuel that sense of “not being good enough”,' she said. 'It can heighten anxiety and panic as a parent in an unhelpful way, and it can also fuel a sense of unhelpful comparison or competition.'
Dr Charlotte Faircloth, professor of family and society at the UCL Social Research Institute, commented on the broader societal issue. 'The nuclear family was never designed to hold everything we’ve asked it to hold,' she said. 'The pressure placed on isolated parents, as well as on couple relationships, is one of the real consequences of that.'
While a physical village offers advantages such as fostering children's resilience through independent play, many busy working parents find building one unrealistic. The study suggests that the expectation to create a village can itself become an additional burden for already stressed families.
