This page presents results from a recent United Kingdom survey on the health disadvantages faced by lone parents and highlights the lack of specific evidence on the levels of ill-health among lone parents in Scotland.

One Parent Families Scotland is concerned that high levels of ill-health among lone parents will affect their chances to take part in welfare to work schemes, and calls for a Scottish study of this issue.

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Poverty & Ill-health

The link between poverty and ill health is well documented [1 & 2]. It is of some consequence that one parent families are one of the groups most vulnerable to poverty.

• 70 per cent of lone mothers were living in poverty in 1992-95
• 60 per cent of one parent households had an average disposable income under £140 per week [3]
• Lone parents spend considerably less on themselves including frequently going without food [4]

Welfare to work policies such as the New Deal for Lone Parents must take into account the fact that lone parents are particularly vulnerable to illness, that this is largely related to poverty and the very specific pressure of lone parenthood. Evidence suggests that further investigation into the health of lone parents is essential.

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The Health Trap

Good health is a baseline in every individual’s life. Poor health will affect every other area of a person's functioning whether it is their ability to work, train or look after children.

It is of particular concern that lone parents, and lone mothers in particular, have a marked health disadvantage and are caught in what the Policy Studies Institute have called a health trap [2].

Recent evidence suggests that the stresses of being a sole carer have a particular impact on health [3]. Moreover, a move from living in poverty, on benefits - a situation already linked to increased levels of ill-health - to low paid work, may mean that a lone parent is no better off in socio-economic terms, and actually worse off in health terms [3].

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Continuing Inequalities

In the last two decades the health disadvantage of lone parents, and lone mothers in particular, has remained substantial. A recent study shows [3]:

• Lone mothers are around 1.8 times more likely to report less than good health than mothers living with a partner.
• Lone mothers are around 1.7 times more likely to report limiting long standing illness than mothers with a partner.
• Lone mother aged 25-34 show rates of ill-health in excess of 1.5 times that of mothers with a partner.
• Rates of less than good health among young lone mothers 16-24 years rose from 35 per cent in 1979-83 to 46 per cent in 1992-95.
• 19 per cent of working lone mothers were poor in 1984-87 and this had increased to 35 per cent in 1992-95. The rates for working mothers with a partner rose from 5 per cent to 8 per cent over the same period.

These figures not only highlight the growing inequalities between these groups but also emphasise the special pressures faced by lone parents.

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Lack of a Scottish Perspective

The evidence quoted above is from a national study, which looks at the UK as a whole. There is concern that the figures may mask a problem in Scotland that is in fact much worse.

A recent study of the health and social care needs of lone parents in Northern Ireland gave a specific breakdown of the health problems faced by lone parents and contributed to the strategies later adopted by statutory and voluntary agencies to a very particular problem [5].

There is no equivalent Scottish research that gives such a detailed breakdown of the health needs of lone parents. Concern has been expressed, for example, that mental health problems have a larger role to play in the health of lone parents including anxiety, depression and phobias [2]. Many of these may go unreported and all are exacerbated by isolation, poverty and lack of support [4].

One Parent Families Scotland is asking the Scottish Health Minister to commission such research, and suggests that it should be conducted in partnership with Scottish lone parent agencies, like the Northern Irish study.

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Wider Implications

There are also broader policy considerations, and we feel that a number of points should be brought to the attention of policy makers:

• Recognition of high levels of poverty among lone parents and the subsequent impact on health.
• Recognition that ill health will impact on a person’s ability to work or train and the implications this may have for other Government initiatives.
• Recognition of the lack of research into the health of lone parents in Scotland.
• Recognition that policies aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle need to be planned and implemented at a local level.
• Recognition that young single mothers need extra support because of the health pressures they face.
• Recognition that ill-health leads to social exclusion and impacts on every facet of an individuals life.
• Recognition that the statement in the recent White Paper - Towards a Healthier Scotland [6] - that "a prosperous and fair society depends on people who are well, with energy and optimism" should include lone parents.
• Recognition that the needs of lone parents should be given priority in assessment of schemes for Healthy Living Centres to be funded by the New Opportunities Fund.

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References

1. Payne, S (1991) Women, Health and Poverty: an introduction. New York/London Harvester Wheatsheaf.
2. Dorsett, R & Marsh, A (1998) The Health Trap: poverty, smoking and lone parenthood. London: Policy Studies Institute.
3. Shouls, S et al (1999) The health and socio-economic circumstances of British lone mothers over the last two decades. Population Trends pp41-46.
4. Popay, J & Jones, G (1990) Patterns of Health and Illness amongst Lone Parents. Journal of Social Policy 19 pp 499-534.
5. Spence, L (1996) All Alone: The health and social care needs of lone parents. The Northern Health and Social Services Board.
6. The Scottish Office (1999) Towards a Healthier Scotland: a White Paper on Health. Edinburgh:The Stationery Office.