Table 1.
Summary of previous studies investigating the relationship between single parenthood and depression.
| Study title | Study type | Objective | Study population | Country | Results | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Mental health among single and partnered parents in South Korea (2017) | Cross‐sectional survey | To examine mental health differences between single and partnered parents, considering social factors and gender variations. | 141 single fathers, 5014 partnered fathers, 407 single mothers, and 6462 partnered mothers | South Korea | Single parents showed significantly poorer mental health compared to partnered parents, with higher odds of depressive symptoms (OR: 2.02, 95% CI: 1.56–2.63), suicidal ideation (OR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.27–2.25), and any of the three mental health conditions (OR: 1.74, 95% CI: 1.38–2.20). |
| 2. | Mental health in young mothers, single mothers and their children (2019) | Cohort study | To scientifically examine how early motherhood and single motherhood influence maternal mental health and the well‐being and developmental outcomes of children. | 1723 Mothers | Sweden | Single mothers at childbirth didn't demonstrate elevated risk for postpartum depression symptoms (OR 1.000, CI 0.495–2.020). Additionally, they didn't report higher levels of externalizing or internalizing problems in their children compared to cohabitating mothers (OR 1.422, CI 0.636–3.183; OR 1.985, CI 0.934‐4.217). |
| 3. | Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorder in Lone Fathers and Mothers: Examining the Intersection of Gender and Family Structure on Mental Health (2011) | Cross‐sectional Survey | To investigate the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in lone fathers and mothers, with a specific focus on understanding how the intersection of gender and family structure influences mental health outcomes, particularly emphasizing the mental health of lone fathers. | 769 Single father and 1964 Single mothers, 5340 Cohabitating Father, and 5505 Cohabitating Mothers | Canada | Single fathers and single mothers show higher prevalence rates of mood disorders and substance use disorders (SUDs) compared to their married counterparts. Among single parents, mothers have a higher prevalence of anxiety disorders (10.7% vs. 4.9%) and mood or anxiety disorders (19.9% vs. 11.1%) than fathers. |
| 4. | Impact of economic problems on depression in single mothers: A comparative study with married women (2018) | Cross‐sectional Survey | The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence of depression among single mothers and identify the risk factors that contribute to its occurrence. | 195 single mothers, 357 married mothers | South Korea | The prevalence of depression showed a notable difference between single mothers (33%) and the control group (8%). In single mothers, factors such as young age, low income, residential instability, high stress, and elevated alcohol‐related problems were found to be associated with depression. |
| 5. | Psychosocial factors associated with symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress among single mothers with young children: A population‐based study (2019) | Cross‐sectional Survey | The objective of this study was to investigate the psychosocial factors associated with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among single mothers with young children. | 517 Single mothers, 6408 partnered mothers | Germany | Single mothers (n = 517) reported significantly higher rates of depressive or anxiety symptoms (30%) and general stress (37%) compared to partnered mothers (n = 6408; p < 0.0001). Further analysis indicates that single mothers are twice as likely to experience symptoms of depression or anxiety (OR 1.9, CI 95% 1.4–2.5). Inadequate social support and a history of partner or childhood maltreatment emerged as consistent risk factors across all outcomes. |
| 6. | Depression and quality of life for women in single‐parent and nuclear families (2009) | Cross‐sectional Survey | This study aimed to achieve two primary objectives. Firstly, it sought to determine the predictors influencing perceived quality of life. Secondly, it aimed to analyze and compare the differences in quality of life, depression levels, and family income between women hailing from single‐parent families and those from two‐parent families. | 107 women from bi‐parent families, 33 women from single‐parent families | Mexico | The results reveal that women from single‐parent families demonstrate a lower quality of life (Z = −2.224, p = 0.026), reduced income (Z = −2.727, p = 0.006), and elevated depression levels (Z = −6.143, p = 0.001) compared to women from bi‐parental families. |
| 7. | Cross‐sectional Survey | The objective of this study was to compare the prevalence rates of depression, as well as other mood and anxiety disorders, between single and married mothers in Singapore. | 10 Single or unmarried women, 1510 married women, 97 divorced or separated women and 21 widowed women | Singapore | Single mothers exhibited markedly higher odds of experiencing mood disorders (OR = 5.28) compared to married mothers. | |
| 8. | Stress, social support and depression in single and married mothers (2003) | Secondary analysis of survey | The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of stress and social support on the association between single‐parent status and depression. | 725 single mothers and 2231 married mothers | Canada | Compared to married mothers, single mothers showed higher rates of recent depression episodes, increased chronic stress levels, and more frequent recent life events and childhood adversities. Stress and social support accounted for almost 40% of the association between single‐parent status and depression. Additionally, stress had a differential impact on depression based on family structure, with married mothers exhibiting a stronger correlation between life events and depression. |
| 9. | Depressive and anxiety disorders among single mothers in Dhaka (2020) | Cross‐sectional survey | To investigate the prevalence and proportions of depressive and anxiety disorders among single mothers residing in Dhaka, Bangladesh. | 156 single mothers | Bangladesh | In Dhaka, 48.8% of single mothers experienced either depressive and/or anxiety disorders, with 17.3% diagnosed with depressive disorder, 21.2% with anxiety disorders, and 10.3% with both. |
Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; OR, odds ratio.