Living Arrangements among Single Mothers in India

Abstract

Abstract:A large proportion of two parent households transition into single parent households upon marital disruption. Single parent households, especially female headed households face an increase in the risk of poverty. This study focuses on whether widow status in India influences the likelihood of household headship in India. This study is based on the most recent National Family Health Survey 1998-1999, in India. The population of interest includes all mothers aged 15 to 49 years, without a spouse, living with one or more of their own children under 18 years of age. We find that being a widow increases the likelihood of being a household head compared to the likelihood of household headship among the divorced and the separated in India. This study provides some evidence on the continuing social discrimination against widows in India. The implication of the findings are discussed. Résumé:Une grande proportion des ménages biparentaux se transforme en ménages monoparentaux après une séparation maritale. Les ménages monoparentaux, spécialement ceux qui sont dirigés par une femme, font face à un danger plus élevé de sombrer dans la pauvreté. Cette étude examine à quel point le fait d'être veuve influence la probabilité de se retrouver à la tête d'un ménage en Inde. Cette étude est basée sur le recensement sur la santé des familles de 1998-1999, le plus récent en Inde. La population d'intérêt comprend toutes les mères âgées de 15 à 49 ans, sans époux et qui vivent avec au moins un de leurs propres enfants de moins de 18 ans. Nous avons trouvé qu'en Inde, le fait d'être veuve augmente la probabilité qu'une femme se retrouve à la tête de son ménage en comparaison aux femmes divorcées ou séparées. Cette étude avance des preuves de cette discrimination sociale continue en Inde envers les veuves. Les implications de ces constatations sont discutées.

Enrollment, Educational Expenditures and Work Among One-Parent Children in India

“…First, not all one-parents choose to co-reside with their extended families. For example, in the case of India, Swain and Pillai (2005) found that age, number of children, and nature of marital dissolution often determine living arrangements among single mothers. In addition, household heads who are not immediate parents may face uncertainty in returns from education that may affect their decisions about resource allocation for goods with private returns (Townsend, 1994).…”

Role of Resilience in the Social Competence and Psychological Well-being of Adolescents with Single Parents

“…Many studies were conducted among single parents regarding their psychological, social, and emotional aspects and well-being (Walker & Hennig, 1997;Hetherington, 2003;Weitoft, Hjern, Haglund & Rosén, 2003;Bradshaw, Keung, Chzhen, Nieuwenhuis, & Maldonado, 2018;Rani, 2006;Pujar, Chanda & Hittalamani, 2018;Chavan, 2018;Swain & Pillai, 2005;Mishra, Thamminaina & Mishra, 2021;Daniel, 2021) but there is an urgent need for extending these concerns to the children who live with a single parent because the factors that they are struggling with have a potential to lead them to many adverse life circumstances and psychological consequences.…”

The psychosocial impact on single mothers’ well-being - A literature review

“…[ 15 ] Single mothers are viewed as insufficient; consequently, they become socially excluded and are subjected to extreme prejudice and condemnation. [ 16 17 ] In general, they have a lower level of education, a poorer household income, and are more likely to reside in extreme poverty, experience unemployment, and cultivate depression than married working mothers. [ 18 ] Whereas rural single parents perceived themselves to be deprived in relational, socioemotional, material, and other dimensions.…”