Mental health among single and partnered parents in South Korea

Abstract

ObjectiveThis study compares the mental health of single parents relative to partnered parents and assesses the contribution of the social and demographic factors to this difference, examining the gender difference in it.MethodsWe analyzed 12,024 single and partnered subjects, aged 30–59 years, living with children, aged 0–19 years, drawn from the 4th, 5th, and 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) dataset in South Korea conducted from 2007–2013. Mental health was evaluated by self-reported questionnaires including depressive mood for recent two weeks, presence of suicidal ideation, and the Korean version of the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test. Covariates included age, physical illness, socioeconomic status (family income, recipient of national basic livelihood guarantees, educational level, house ownership, job, and residential area), family structure, and support (co-residence of another adult). Multiple logistic regression was carried out and the explained fractions of each covariate was calculated.ResultsSingle parents had significantly poorer mental health than their partnered counterparts, with odds ratio (OR) of 2.02 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.56–2.63) for depressive symptoms, 1.69 (95% CI 1.27–2.25) for suicidal ideation, and 1.74 (95% CI 1.38–2.20) for any of the three mental health statuses (suspicious depression, suicidal ideation, and alcohol dependence) after controlling for the covariates. The odds of depressive symptoms (OR = 3.13, 95% CI 2.50–3.93) and suicidal ideation (OR = 2.50, 95% CI 1.97–3.17) among both single fathers and mothers were higher than partnered parents. However, the odds of alcohol dependence were 3.6 times higher among single mothers than partnered mothers (OR = 3.58, 95% CI 1.81–7.08) and were 1.4 times greater among single fathers than partnered fathers (OR = 1.35, 95% CI 0.81–2.25). Socio-economic status explained more than 50% (except for substance use disorders) of the poorer mental health in single parents. These results were more remarkable for single fathers than for single mothers except for alcohol dependence. However, physical illness, family structure, and support made only minor contributions to single parents’ mental health.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that single parents have poorer mental health than partnered parents. Although lower SES is an important factor explaining poorer mental health in single parents, there are other factors we cannot explain about their poor mental health. Therefore, we should pay proper regard to identifying other factors affecting mental health and to establishing policies to support single parents.

Increased prevalence of depression in South Korea from 2002 to 2013

“…South Korea is a highly competitive society that has experienced rapid economic and sociocultural changes over the past few decades. The costs of these rapid changes include occupational stress, rising housing prices, and high divorce rates, all of which are closely associated with depression in South Korea 38 – 40 . We compared the prevalence of three different categories of depression, i.e., Dx, Dx and Mx, and Dx or Mx, and the overall trends were similar.…”

Single-parenthood and health conditions among children receiving public assistance in Japan: a cross-sectional study

“…Several studies have reported that parental psychosocial stress increases the risk of their children developing asthma and allergic diseases [21][22][23][24][25]. An association between single-parenthood and increased parental psychosocial stress has also been reported [26][27][28][29]. Mullins et al identi ed an association between being a single parent and peoples' parenting capacities, suggesting that children living in single-parent households may not receive enough care, resulting in their increased morbidity of chronic health conditions [26].…”

Depressive and anxiety disorders among single mothers in Dhaka

“…A study of Korea found that the greater risk of poor mental health among single mothers is often explained by low socioeconomic status, social support and stress. Single parents, especially single mothers, were reported to have poor health, especially mental health, higher risk of early death, more feeling of weakness and poor self-perceived health than partnered parents (Kong et al, 2017). Single motherhood is also associated with lower age and education.…”

“…Coping with childrearing for single parents becomes more difficult because of responsibility overload, task overload, and emotional overload. Alone or in combination, these result in problems for the single parent, including loneliness, anxiety and depression (Kim et al, 2018; Kong et al, 2017; Rousou et al, 2019; Subramaniam et al, 2014; Theodoritsi et al, 2018). Nevertheless, they have increased mortality risk may be due to strain and consequences of the stress of lone motherhood.…”

“…Nevertheless, they have increased mortality risk may be due to strain and consequences of the stress of lone motherhood. They also suffer from financial difficulties, their children’s behavioral problems and above all social ostracism (Kim et al, 2018; Kong et al, 2017; Rahman et al, 2013; Rousou et al, 2019; Subramaniam et al, 2014). Single mothers also reported lower levels of perceived social support, social involvement and frequency of contact with friends and family than married mothers (Kim et al, 2018; Theodoritsi et al, 2018).…”