title: Health risks of separated or divorced over-indebted fathers: separation from children and financial distress.
abstract: The study examines over-indebted fathers after separation/divorce with respect to health-related lifestyles/state of health. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among over-indebted persons in Germany 2006/2007 (response rate 39.7%). Fathers in complete families (n = 73; M = 37 years) and single mothers (n = 72; M = 33.5 years) served as comparison groups to the separated fathers (n = 59; M = 37 years). Risks of depressive mood, unhealthy nutrition, and hypertension were higher compared to fathers in complete families. Tobacco use and low health awareness proved to be higher than among both comparison groups. The findings indicate problematic health-related behavior and health status among separated over-indebted fathers, and suggest recognizing them as a high risk group within social work.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Occupational, Social, and Environmental Medicine, University Medical Center of the University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany. heiko.rueger@uni-mainz.de
authors.forename: Heiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rueger
authors.forename: Norbert F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Zier
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Letzel
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Muenster
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004243:Divorce; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012847:Single Person; D012923:Social Class; D055815:Young Adult