title: [Single-parent mothers, poverty and mental health: review of the literature].
abstract: The goal of this article is to discuss an overview of literature published from 1968 to 1993 and dealing with links between single-parenting, poverty and mental health. A total of 56 articles were selected based on the most current data banks. Results show that the population of single-parent mothers is growing and that they are becoming increasingly poor. Of the six mental health variables listed by the author, four (psychological distress, self-esteem, perception of one's own skills and psychological isolation) clearly demonstrate that single-parent mothers are in a less healthy mental state than are mothers in two-parent families. Results also indicate that self-esteem, distress and psychological well-being are affected by economic variables. Results therefore vary according to the variable being measured. Although single-parent mothers experience more psychological discomfort than mothers in two-parent families, they do not seem to experience more serious mental health problems. The authors argue that future research on the subject should take into consideration a certain number of aspects, discussed in the conclusion of this article, which account for links between single-parenting, poverty and mental health.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Langlois
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fortin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011203:Poverty; D015406:Single Parent / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
vernacular_title: Monoparentalité à chef féminin, pauvreté et santé mentale: état de la recherche.