Impact of economic problems on depression in single mothers: A comparative study with married women

Ga Eun Kim, Hee-Yeon Choi and Eui-Jung Kim

PLOS ONE, 2018, vol. 13, issue 8, 1-14

Abstract: Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk factors that influence depression among single mothers. Methods: Participants were 195 single mothers and 357 married mothers living in an urban community in South Korea. All subjects completed self-report questionnaires that included the following self-rating scales: the Global Assessment of Recent Stress, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale, and the Korean version of the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to examine independent factors affecting single mothers’ depression. Results: The prevalence of depression differed notably between the single mothers and the control group, at 33% and 8%, respectively. In the single mothers, young age, low income, residential instability, high stress, and high alcohol-related problems were determined to be associated with depression. Furthermore, after adjusting for covariates, living in rental housing (OR = 11.46, 95% CI 1.72–76.46) was found to be an independent risk factor of depression in the single mothers, while stress (OR = 1.16, 95% CI 1.09–1.24) was found to have this effect on the married mothers. Conclusions: Practical services concerning economic stability and parenting support should be provided for single mothers to reduce depression among this demographic.

Date: 2018
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pone00:0203004

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203004

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