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The Impact of Financial Hardship on Single Parents: An Exploration of the Journey From Social Distress to Seeking Help

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  • Rebecca Jayne Stack

    (Nottingham Trent University)

  • Alex Meredith

    (Nottingham Trent University)

Abstract

Single parent families are at high risk of financial hardship which may impact on psychological wellbeing. This study explored the impact of financial hardship on wellbeing on 15 single parents. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using constructivist thematic analysis. Participants described food and fuel poverty, and the need to make sacrifices to ensure that children’s basic needs were met. In some cases, participants went without food and struggled to pay bills. Isolation, anxiety, depression, paranoia, and suicidal thoughts were described. However, participants reported that psychological services not able to take the needs of single parents in to account. Support for single parents must acknowledge the impact of social circumstances and give more consideration economic drivers of distress.

Suggested Citation

  • Rebecca Jayne Stack & Alex Meredith, 2018. "The Impact of Financial Hardship on Single Parents: An Exploration of the Journey From Social Distress to Seeking Help," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 39(2), pages 233-242, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jfamec:v:39:y:2018:i:2:d:10.1007_s10834-017-9551-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s10834-017-9551-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. John Ifcher & Homa Zarghamee, 2014. "The Happiness of Single Mothers: Evidence from the General Social Survey," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 15(5), pages 1219-1238, October.
    2. Leigh Simmons & Elizabeth Dolan & Bonnie Braun, 2007. "Rhetoric and Reality of Economic Self-sufficiency Among Rural, Low-Income Mothers: A Longitudinal Study," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 28(3), pages 489-505, September.
    3. Anna Baranowska-Rataj & Anna Matysiak & Monika Mynarska, 2014. "Does Lone Motherhood Decrease Women’s Happiness? Evidence from Qualitative and Quantitative Research," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 15(6), pages 1457-1477, December.
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    Cited by:

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    3. Valerie K. Heintz-Martin & Alexandra N. Langmeyer, 2020. "Economic Situation, Financial Strain and Child Wellbeing in Stepfamilies and Single-Parent Families in Germany," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 41(2), pages 238-254, June.
    4. Zietz, Susannah & Lansford, Jennifer E. & Liu, Qin & Long, Qian & Oburu, Paul & Pastorelli, Concetta & Sorbring, Emma & Skinner, Ann T. & Steinberg, Laurence & Tapanya, Sombat & Tirado, Liliana Maria , 2022. "A longitudinal examination of the family stress model of economic hardship in seven countries," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    5. Stevenson, Clifford & Costa, Sebastiano & Wakefield, Juliet R.H. & Kellezi, Blerina & Stack, Rebecca J., 2020. "Family identification facilitates coping with financial stress: A social identity approach to family financial resilience," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    6. Valerie Heintz-Martin & Claudia Recksiedler & Alexandra N. Langmeyer, 2022. "Household Debt, Maternal Well-Being, and Child Adjustment in Germany: Examining the Family Stress Model by Family Structure," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 43(2), pages 338-353, June.
    7. Ian Clark & Chris Lawton & Clifford Stevenson & Tom Vickers & David Dahill, 2022. "A ‘place-based’ approach to work and employment: The end of reciprocity for ordinary working families and ‘giggers’ in a place," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 43(2), pages 634-657, May.
    8. Bell, Zoë & Scott, Steph & Visram, Shelina & Rankin, Judith & Bambra, Clare & Heslehurst, Nicola, 2022. "Experiences and perceptions of nutritional health and wellbeing amongst food insecure women in Europe: A qualitative meta-ethnography," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 311(C).
    9. Sheila May S. Bresenio & Aristeo C. Salapa, 2023. "The Multiple Burdens: Navigating Experiences of Solo Parent Mothers in Davao City Water District," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 7(6), pages 617-632, June.
    10. Melissa J. Wilmarth, 2021. "Financial and Economic Well-Being: A Decade Review from Journal of Family and Economic Issues," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 42(1), pages 124-130, July.

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