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Economic Precarity among Single Parents in the United States during the COVID-19 Pandemic

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  • Zachary Parolin
  • Emma K. Lee

Abstract

Single-parent families have historically faced greater economic precarity relative to other family types in the United States. We investigate how and whether those disparities widened after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using data on exposure to school and childcare center closures, unemployment, poverty, food hardship, and frequent worrying among single-parent families versus two-parent families throughout 2020 and 2021, we find that the challenges that single parents faced prior to the pandemic generally magnified after the arrival of COVID-19. In April 2020, one in four single parents was unemployed, and unemployment rates recovered more slowly for single parents throughout 2021, perhaps in part due to their unequal exposure to school and childcare closures. The expansion of income transfers largely buffered against potential increases in poverty and hardship, but levels of worrying among single parents continued to worsen throughout 2021.

Suggested Citation

  • Zachary Parolin & Emma K. Lee, 2022. "Economic Precarity among Single Parents in the United States during the COVID-19 Pandemic," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 702(1), pages 206-223, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:anname:v:702:y:2022:i:1:p:206-223
    DOI: 10.1177/00027162221122682
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zachary Parolin & Elizabeth Ananat & Sophie Collyer & Megan Curran & Christoper Wimer, 2021. "The Initial Effects of the Expanded Child Tax Credit on Material Hardship," Poverty and Social Policy Brief 20413, Center on Poverty and Social Policy, Columbia University.
    2. David Brady & Ryan Finnigan & Sabine Hübgen, 2017. "Rethinking the risks of poverty: a framework for analyzing prevalences and penalties," LIS Working papers 693, LIS Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg.
    3. Julio Huato & Aida Chavez, 2021. "Household Income, Pandemic-Related Income Loss, and the Probability of Anxiety and Depression," Eastern Economic Journal, Palgrave Macmillan;Eastern Economic Association, vol. 47(4), pages 546-570, October.
    4. Zachary Parolin & Emma K. Lee, 2021. "Large socio-economic, geographic and demographic disparities exist in exposure to school closures," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 5(4), pages 522-528, April.
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    1. McGinnity, Frances & Russell, Helen & Alamir, Anousheh, 2024. "The equality impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Irish labour market," Research Series, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number JR6.

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