title: Does non-employment contribute to the health disadvantage among lone mothers in Britain, Italy and Sweden? Synergy effects and the meaning of family policy.
abstract: This study analyses self-rated health and non-employment and potential synergy effects among lone and couple mothers aged 25-59 in Britain, Sweden and Italy, representing different family policy categories using data from national surveys (2000-2005). Synergy effects on health were calculated by synergy index. Non-employment only marginally contributed to the excess risk of poor health among lone mothers but there were synergy effects between lone motherhood and non-employment in all three countries, producing a higher risk of poor health than would be expected from a simple addition of these exposures. Results are discussed in relation to the different family policy and living contexts.
authors: Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Social Medicine, Karolinska Institute, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden. sara.fritzell@ki.se
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Fritzell
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: Vannoni
authors: Margaret
authors: M
authors: Whitehead
authors: Bo
authors: B
authors: Burström
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Costa
authors: Stephen
authors: S
authors: Clayton
authors: Johan
authors: J
authors: Fritzell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers; D011050:Policy Making; D015406:Single Parent; D013548:Sweden; D014478:Unemployment