[Self-exercised health care and consultation of medical aid by single-parent mothers or fathers - results of a federal health survey].
OBJECTIVE
Single parents are at high risk of economical poverty and social deprivation. In this study we investigated the association of single parenthood with self-reported health, self-perceived mental disorders and the use of medical services.


METHODS
The public users file of the German Health Survey 1998 were used for secondary analysis. Single-parent mothers aged 18 to 45 with at least one child under the age of 18 (n = 81) were compared with two control groups of the same age: mothers living in traditional nuclear families (n = 104) and women living in partnership status without children (n = 140).


RESULTS
Single-parent mothers report less frequently than controls of a very good or excellent health status and more frequently of mental complaints (differences of single items of 10 to 15 percent). Feelings of discouragement and sadness are more common in this group. Overall, single-parent mothers do not use medical services more frequently than the control groups, but there are differences in the use of some specialists, especially psychotherapists.


CONCLUSIONS
In respect of health, psychological stress is at a high level whereas the value of subjective health seems lower. The emphasis on situational parameters provides an insight into positive coping strategies and shifts the focus on influences that support health in a positive manner.
Hoffmann
B
B
Institut für Sozialmedizin und Gesundheitsökonomie (ISMHE), Medizinische Fakultät, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Germany. britt.hoffmann@medizin.uni-magdeburg.de
Swart
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008511:Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011610:Psychosocial Deprivation; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012016:Reference Values; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015406:Single Parent / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013038:Specialization