Are Single Mothers at Higher Risk for Psychiatric Disorders?

Approximately 20% of Canadian families are single headed by single parents, and women head 80% of these families. Although the increased risk for psychiatric disorder among single mothers is well established, several gaps remain in our understanding of the relationship between family structure and psychiatric outcomes.

If we are to understand the relationship between family structure and maternal mental health, it is necessary to examine whether rates of mental illness differ between divorced or separated and never-married single mothers. A recent study, under the direction of Dr. John Cairney, examined the differences between single and married mothers in the prevalence of psychiatric and substance use disorders over a 12-month period.

The data indicated that it was previously married mothers who had higher rates of mental illness, compared with married mothers.  Previously married mothers also had higher rates of depressive disorders and alcohol abuse, compared to married and never-married mothers. 

Dr. Cairney and his team also discovered that single mothers who were never married and married mothers have similar prevalence rates of psychiatric and substance use disorders.  These rates are generally lower than prevalences among women who experience a disruption in their marriage.  This pattern of results suggests a vulnerability to psychiatric and substance use disorders that is specific to divorced or separated women with children, not married and never-married mothers.

This data is important for clinicians to consider.   Dr. Cairney and his team suggest that clinicians look the impact of marital history on the relationship between family structure and psychiatric outcomes, and carefully screen for psychiatric and substance use disorders in mothers who’ve experienced marital disruption.

Visit http://www.cpa-apc.org:8080/Publications/Archives/CJP/2006/september/cjp-sept-06-cairney-BC.pdf for a full PDF copy of this study.

• Print