Middle income, divorced female heads of families: their lifestyles, health and stress levels.
Forty-five, French-Canadian female heads of families with adequate incomes and high educational levels were identified through newspaper ads. At time of interview, the subjects had been separated or divorced for from one to three years. Interviews showed that, unlike previous reports of divorced women and female heads of families, this group enjoyed relatively good health and normal stress levels, and were generally positive about being head of the family. Among the positive changes, the majority emphasized their greater autonomy, freedom, and sense of selfhood. Some mentioned improved relations with their children. On the negative side, loneliness, absence of the father (particularly for their sons), and limited social lives were most often mentioned. It was concluded that the role of head of family is perfectly acceptable for many economically viable women, though not necessarily ideal.
D000328:Adult; D002668:Child Rearing; D004243:Divorce; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008019:Life Style; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D014930:Women