A family support charity has warned of a "loneliness crisis" among parents as new figures show more than four in five in the South East have experienced isolation.
A survey commissioned by Home-Start UK revealed 83 per cent of parents in the South East have felt lonely or isolated.
Carried out by YouGov, it highlights the extent of isolation experienced by parents and carers during critical stages of their children's development and identifies an urgent need to address loneliness for families across the county and beyond.
One of the survey's key findings was almost one in five parents rarely or never have meaningful contact with another adult outside their household.
Young parents aged 18 to 24 are more likely to feel isolated, with 28 per cent reporting they always or often feel lonely.
This compares to 20 per cent of parents aged 35 to 44, and 16 per cent of parents aged 45 to 54.
Katharine Barber, CEO of Home-Start Oxford, which has supported 470 families in the past year, said: "Being a parent is tough, but when you combine that with limited contact with others, it makes things so much harder.
"The results of this study show just how widespread loneliness is, not just here in the South East, but nationally, and we really must act now to help families who may be struggling.
"With more families than ever needing support, we are urgently seeking volunteers to help us. If you can spare a few hours a week, we’d love to hear from you."
The survey also found parents who are not working are more than twice as likely to always or often feel lonely or isolated, compared to those who are working, and men are as likely as women to say they rarely or never have meaningful contact with other adults outside their household.
Parents in lower income families were also found to be more likely to feel lonely, with the cost of living being the leading factor contributing towards feelings of loneliness or isolation.
In response to the study, Home-Start Oxford is making a renewed call for parents who may be struggling with loneliness to reach out for support.
It said the findings of this latest survey "highlight a silent epidemic faced by parents feeling cut off from the wider community".
The charity is also asking for people thinking about volunteering to consider joining its volunteer team.
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