Single Parenting & Mental Health

Over the last decades a great deal of changes have taken place in the family structure leading to an increase in single-parent families. Studies demonstrate that almost 3 out of 10 children are being raised in single-parent households, while this number is expected to increase in the future[1]. It seems that the majority of single parent households are headed by single mothers who often face a number of difficulties and challenges in practicing their parenting role. Single parents, especially single mothers seem to experience increased levels of stress, anxiety and depression, face more socio economic difficulties and lack of social support as compared to married couple families.  Before you even take into account any pre-existing mental health issues, single parenting is associated with poor mental health. A 2007 study by Crozier, Butterworth and Rogers found that single moms are significantly more likely to have a moderate to severe mental disability, like me. In fact, the study shows that prevalence of mental health issues in single mums is almost 30 per cent (i.e. one-third of us) compared to partnered mothers (around 15 per cent). The study cites the main reasons for single moms having an increased risk of poor mental health as decreased household income, increased financial hardship and a perceived lack of social support. Dr Ian Drever, consultant psychiatrist at The Priory Woking, says: “I’m struck by what a lonely place single-parenting can be, and relentlessly hard work. Single parent households typically struggle more than ones with married parents. Single motherhood probably isn't going away, though, so it's time for us all to step up and make changes to help single mothers thrive[2]. By closing the wage gap for women and by introducing more flexible working conditions, single mothers can make the most of their situation no matter how they ended up in it. And this will ultimately benefit not just moms, but children too. - Arsh Shikalgar REFERENCES-: 1) Single Motherhood On The Rise (moms.com) 2) Mental health in young mothers, single mothers and their children | BMC Psychiatry | Full Text (biomedcentral.com)