title: Self-rated health and mental health of lone fathers compared with lone mothers and partnered fathers: a population-based cross-sectional study.
abstract: Lone parenthood is associated with poorer health; however, the vast majority of previous studies have examined lone mothers and only a few have focused on lone fathers. We aimed to examine the self-rated health and mental health status among a large population-based cross-sectional sample of Canadian lone fathers compared with both partnered fathers and lone mothers.
  
  
  
  We investigated differences in self-rated health and mental health among 1058 lone fathers compared with 20 692 partnered fathers and 5725 lone mothers using the Ontario component of the Canadian Community Health Survey (2001-2013). Multivariable logistic regression was used to compare the odds of poor/fair self-rated health and mental health between the study groups while adjusting for a comprehensive list of sociodemographic factors, stressors and lifestyle factors.
  
  
  
  Lone fathers and lone mothers showed similar prevalence of poor/fair self-rated health (11.6% and 12.5%, respectively) and mental health (6.2% and 8.4%, respectively); the odds were similar even after multivariable adjustment. Lone fathers showed higher odds of poor/fair self-rated health (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.07 to 2.17) and mental health (OR 2.09, 95% CI 1.26 to 3.46) than partnered fathers after adjustment for sociodemographic factors; however, these differences were no longer significant after accounting for stressors, including low income and unemployment.
  
  
  
  In this large population-based study, lone fathers had worse self-rated health and mental health than partnered fathers and similarly poor self-rated health and mental health as lone mothers. Interventions, supports and social policies designed for single parents should also recognise the needs of lone fathers.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.|Faculty of Medicine and Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.affiliation: Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Farah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.affiliation: Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.|Faculty of Medicine and Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.|Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kurdyak
authors.affiliation: Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.|Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cairney
authors.affiliation: Cancer Care Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Nathaniel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jembere
authors.affiliation: Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.|Faculty of Medicine and Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.|Women's College Hospital and Women's College Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vigod
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005219:Father-Child Relations; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D020377:Self Efficacy; D015406:Single Parent / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: EPIDEMIOLOGY; HEALTH STATUS; MENTAL HEALTH