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Women's Health Australia homepage about the Women's Health Australia project Women's Health Australia staff Women's Health Australia current events Women's Health Australia surveys and data Women's Health Australia substudies information for Women's Health Australia participants University of Newcastle contact Women's Health Australia Women's Health Australia publications and presentations Women's Health Australia homepage about the Women's Health Australia project Women's Health Australia staff Women's Health Australia current events Women's Health Australia surveys and data Women's Health Australia substudies information for Women's Health Australia participants University of Newcastle contact Women's Health Australia Women's Health Australia publications and presentations Welcome to Women's Health Australia (WHA)

 
 


Presentations 2008

Loxton D, Powers J, Mooney R & Hoskings S. Sole motherhood, mental health and the role of social support.
Melbourne, Victoria, 17- 20 March 2008

Introduction: Past research conducted using ALSWH data has found a strong relationship between sole motherhood and poor mental health, with sole mothers experiencing higher odds than other women of experiencing depression, self harm and suicidal thoughts (Loxton, Young & Mooney, 2006). The current paper examines the role of social support in the mental health of sole mothers. Method: Survey results from the fourth survey of the ALSWH younger cohort, aged 28-33 are currently being examined to establish the mental health of sole mothers, the level of social support available to sole mothers compared to other women, and the association between social support and mental health among sole mothers. In addition, 11 focus groups were conducted with sole mothers in rural and urban NSW, which were transcribed and thematically analysed using NVivo software. Results: Preliminary results of the ALSWH data analysis suggest that sole mothers experience significantly less social support than other women, and furthermore, sole mothers with high social support appear significantly mentally healthier than women with lower social support. The complex nature of social support and sole motherhood was revealed by the focus group study. Themes that arose from the data included the loss of social support that occurred at separation, particularly where intimate partner abuse had occurred; the difficulties sole mothers experienced in obtaining social support; and the emotional benefits of social support. Conclusions: For a range of reasons, social support is less readily available to sole mothers than other women, but when available, social support appears to be associated with improved mental health.
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