J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2012 Nov;51(6):422-429.

Mental Health and Influencing Social Factors of Parents in Single Parent Families Living at an Urban Community

• Kim SI
• Kim EJ

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to identify mental health of parents in single parent families according to sociodemographic variables and then to identify analyzed sociodemographic factors affecting their mental health.
METHODS
The study participants included 291 parents in single parent families registered at Yangcheon-gu. They accomplished a self-report questionnaire, which included sociodemographic characteristics and self-rating scales ; Global Assessment of Recent Stress (GARS), The Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D), Scale for Suicidal Ideation (SSI-Beck), and The Korean Version of the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT-K). First, we identified mental health of parents in single parent families according to sociodemographic variables by independent T test or ANOVA. Second, ANCOVA was used for determination of sociodemographic variables affecting mental health of parents in single parent families after adjusting other significant sociodemographic variables.
RESULTS
Among sociodemographic variables, structure of family, age, occupation, type of residence, and monthly income had a significant effect on mental health of parents in single parent families. In families with an unmarried mother and unemployed, scores for GARS, CES-D, SSI-Beck, and AUDIT-K were significantly higher, while these scores were significantly lower in subjects whose monthly income was over 3 million won.
CONCLUSION
Results of this study demonstrate that parents in single parent families were vulnerable to mental health problems, especially unmarried mothers, families, and unemployed. We should try to provide practical support in order to reduce social burden and provide earlier psychological interventions in order to reduce distress for single parent families.

Keyword

Mental health; Social factors; Single parent families

MeSH Terms

Humans
Illegitimacy
Mental Health
Occupations
Parents
Surveys and Questionnaires
Single Parent
Single-Parent Family
Suicidal Ideation
Weights and Measures

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