[Psychosocial distress and symptoms of single mothers and their children in a large community sample].
OBJECTIVE
As in other western countries the proportion of single parent families in Germany is growing. International studies showed lower socioeconomic status and elevated psychic distress in single mothers as well as increased problem behavior in their children. This study was performed to make up for the lack of epidemiologic investigations on this issue in Germany.


METHODS
The family status of a complete cohort of school beginners in Duesseldorf was screened (recruitment rate 97.5%, N = 5,048). Single mothers and their children were compared to a control group of married mothers (N = 278) with respect to social variables and psychic distress (SCL-90-R, CBCL).


RESULTS
907 (18.0%) of all children lived in single parent families. Socioeconomic status (income, education, receiving welfare) of single mothers (total N = 891) who fulfilled the inclusion criteria (N = 531) was lower, while psychic distress was significantly elevated (GSI 0.45 vs. 0.28). Single mothers without additional personal support for their child, younger as well as poor single mothers showed higher values of GSI. Statistically significant increased behavior problems were found only in boys of single mothers.


CONCLUSIONS
Single mothers are socially disadvantaged. They show an elevated mean psychic distress compared to married mothers. Psychosocial support for higher impaired subgroups of single mothers should be developed.
Klinisches Institut für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie der Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, 40225 Düsseldorf. matthias.franz@uni-duesseldorf.de
Matthias
M
Franz
Herbert
H
Lensche
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011610:Psychosocial Deprivation; D012307:Risk Factors; D015406:Single Parent / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*