INTRODUCTION:

Definition:

A single parent is a person who lives with a child or children and who does not have a spouse or live-in partner due to include divorce, break-up, abandonment, death of the other parent, childbirth by a single woman or single-person adoption.

A single parent family is a family with children that is headed by a single parent with children under age 18 headed by a parent who is widowed or divorced and not remarried, or by a parent who has never married.²

Common problems:

Single-parent families face special challenges as economic.

Children living with single fathers were the least likely of all children to have health insurance coverage.

Social scientists have found that children growing up in single-parent families are disadvantaged in other ways when compared to a two-biological-parent families. Many of these problems are directly related to the poor economic condition of single-parent families, not just to parenting style.

These children are at risk for the following:

· Lower levels of educational achievement

· Twice as likely to drop out of school

· More likely to become teen parents

· More conflict with their parent(s)

· Less supervised by adults

· More likely to become truants

· More frequently abuse drugs and alcohol

· More high-risk sexual behavior

· More likely to join a gang

· Twice as likely to go to jail

· Four times as likely to need help for emotional and behavioral problems

· More likely to participate in violent crime

· More likely to commit suicide

· Twice as likely to get divorced in adulthood

· Abusive or has a high level of antisocial behavior do not do as well as children whose parents divorce if the child then lives in a single-parent family with the non-abusive parent.

It is important to remember that every single-parent family is different.

· Children who are living with a widowed mother will have a home life that is different from children with divorced parents or those whose parents were never married.

· Children of divorced parents will have a wide range of relationships with their parents and parents' partners depending on custody arrangements and the commitment of the non-custodial parent to maintaining a relationship with the child.

· Despite the fact that children from single-parent families often face a tougher time economically and emotionally than children from two-biological-parent families, children from single-parent families can grow up doing well in school and maintaining healthy behaviors and relationships^.3

Common single-parent challenges:

· Child rearing can be difficult under any circumstances. Without a partner, the stakes are higher. As a single parent, he/she might have sole responsibility for all aspects of day-to-day child care.

· Being a single parent can result in added pressure, stress and fatigue. If he/she is too tired or distracted to be emotionally supportive or consistently discipline his/her child, behavioral problems might arise.

· Single-parent families also generally have lower incomes and less access to health care. Juggling work and child care can be financially difficult and socially isolating.

· Lack of a male or female parental role model for child, too.³

Parental concerns:

Being a single parent can be hard and lonely. There is often no other adult with whom to share decision-making, discipline, and financial responsibilities. The full burden of finding responsible childcare, earning a living, and parenting falls on one individual. However, the lack of a second parent often has a less negative impact on children than family instability, lack of structure, and inconsistent enforcement of parental standards.

Single parents may want to follow these steps in order to create positive experiences for their children:

· Find stable, safe child care.

· Establish a home routine and stick to it.

· Apply rules and discipline clearly and consistently.

· Allow the child to be a child and not ask him or her to solve adult problems.

· Get to know the important people (teachers, coaches, friends) in the child's life.

· Answer questions about the other parent calmly and honestly.

· Avoid behavior that causes the child to feel pressed to choose between divorced parents.

· Explain financial limitations honestly.⁴

When to get help:

If parents feel their child is out of control and is not responding to their parenting, they need to get help from the child's school, social service agencies, and mental health professionals. If they feel their own life is spiraling downward and falling apart, they can seek help from many organizations that provide social, emotional, financial, and legal support for single-parent families.

Positive strategies:

To reduce stress in single-parent family:

1. Show love. Remember to praise child. Give him or her unconditional love and support. Set aside time each day to play read or simply sit with child.

2. Create a routine. Structure — such as regularly scheduled meals and bedtimes — helps child know what to expect.

3. Find quality child care. If he/sheneed regular child care, look for a qualified caregiver who can provide stimulation in a safe environment. Don't rely on an older child as only baby sitter. Be careful about asking a new friend or partner to watch child.

4. Set limits. Explain house rules and expectations to child-such as speaking respectfully-and enforce them. Work with other caregivers in child's life to provide consistent discipline. Consider re-evaluating certain limits, such as child's screen time, when he or she shows the ability to accept more responsibility.

5. Don't feel guilty. Don't blame yourself or spoil child to make up for being a single parent.

6. Take care of his/ herself. Include physical activity in daily routine, eat a healthy diet and get plenty of sleep. Arrange time to do activities enjoy alone or with friends. Give a "timeout" by arranging for child care at least a few hours a week.

7. Lean on others. Work out a carpool schedule with other parents. Join a support group for single parents or seek social services. Call on loved ones, friends and neighbors for help. Faith communities can be helpful resources, too.

8. Stay positive. It's OK to be honest with child if parent having a difficult time, but remind him or her that things will get better. Give child an age-appropriate level of responsibility rather than expecting him or her to behave like a "little adult." Keep sense of humor when dealing with everyday challenges.

Be aware that some research has shown that teens in single-parent households have a higher risk of depression and lower self-esteem. Signs and symptoms of depression may include social isolation; feeling sad, alone or unloved; disliking one’s looks; irritability; and a sense of hopelessness.^5,6

If you see these signs in your child or teen, talk to his or her doctor.

1. Talking to child about separation or divorce:

Many single-parent families are the result of divorce or separation. If this is the case in his/her family, talk to child about the changes he/shefacing. Listen to child's feelings and try to answer his or her questions honestly — avoiding unnecessary details or negativity about the other parent. Remind that child did nothing to cause the divorce or separation and that he/she always love him or her.

A counselor might be able to help parent and with child talk about problems, fears or concerns. Try to regularly communicate with child's other parent about child's care and well-being to help him or her adapt. Children who fare best in divorce have parents who continue to communicate on co-parenting issues, placing their children's needs above their own desire to avoid the ex-spouse.

2. Single parenting and dating:

If parents are dating, consider the impact of new romantic partner will have on his/her child. Look for a partner who will treat both you and your child with respect. Consider waiting until they established a solid relationship with someone before introducing him or her to their child.

When both parents ready to make the introduction, explain to child some of new partner's positive qualities. Don't expect new partner and child to become close immediately, however. Give them time to get to know each other, and be clear that the new partner isn't trying to replace the other parent.

3. Male and female role models:

If child's other parent isn't involved in his or her life, he/she might worry about the lack of a male or female parental role model in child's life. To send positive messages about the opposite sex:

· Look for opportunities to be positive. Point out accomplishments or positive characteristics of members of the opposite sex in family, the community or even the media. Avoid making broad, negative statements about the opposite sex.

· Contradict negative stereotypes about the opposite sex. Share an example of a member of the opposite sex who doesn't fit the stereotype.

· Include in life members of the opposite sex who aren't romantic partners. Seek out positive relationships with responsible members of the opposite sex who might serve as role models for child. Show child that it's possible to have long-term, positive relationships with members of the opposite sex.

Being a single parent can be a challenging but rewarding experience. By showing child love and respect, talking honestly and staying positive, he/she can lessen his/her stress and help them to child thrive.^7,8

REFERENCES:

1. Richter D, Lemola S (2017) Growing up with a single mother and life satisfaction in adulthood: A test of mediating and moderating factors. PLoS ONE 12(6): e0179639. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone. 0179639

2. U.S. Census Bureau. Household relationship and living arrangements of children under 18 years. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office; 2014.

3. Diener E. New findings and future directions for subjective well-being research. American Psychologist. 2012;67(8):590–7. pmid:23163434

4. Diener E, Chan MY. Happy People Live Longer: Subjective Well-Being Contributes to Health and Longevity. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being. 2011;3(1):1–43.

5. Amato PR. The consequences of divorce for adults and children. Journal of Marriage and Family. 2000;62(4):1269–87.

6. Amato PR. The impact of family formation change on the cognitive, social, and emotional well-being of the next generation. The Future of Children. 2005;15(2):75–96. pmid:16158731

7. Biblarz TJ, Stacey J. How does the gender of parents matter? Journal of Marriage and Family. 2010;72(1):3–22.

8. Amato PR, Keith B. Parental divorce and the well-being of children: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin. 1991;110(1):26–46. pmid:1832495

Received on 26.05.2020 Modified on 05.06.2020

Int. J. of Advances in Nur. Management. 2020; 8(3):268-270.

DOI: 10.5958/2454-2652.2020.00059.1