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Study Single parents are more often ill
In Germany there are more and more single parents. About 90 percent of them are women. Many of them are at a disadvantage compared to couples. According to a new study, single parents are more often ill than parents in a partnership.
90 percent of single parents are women
In Germany there are 1.64 million single parents. That's 20 percent of all families, according to a report by the Rheinische Post (RP). 90 percent of lone parents are women. A new study by the Rostock-based Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research has now shown that single parents are more likely to be ill than parents in partnership. Experts call for more support for those affected.
According to a recent study, single parents are more often ill than parents in a partnership. Experts call for more support for those affected. (Image: S.Kobold / fotolia.com) Single parents are more often ill
Many single mothers suffer from fatigue and burnout. The double burden of family and work is much more difficult for single parents than for people in a partnership.
That a study of the Rostock Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research now came to the conclusion that single parents are sick more often than parents in partnership, is therefore not surprising.
According to the investigation, they also depend on the personal well-being of those who share education with a partner.
Improvement of health and well-being
The social scientist Mine Kühn was able to show that health and well-being can improve if the lone parent pursues a paid employment.
According to FP, 2.31 million children live in lone parent households, and 68% of mothers are gainfully employed - an average of 29.6 hours a week.
"When a woman works part-time to full-time, health and wellbeing even improve again," said Kühn to the German Press Agency.
The central task of the society is to create opportunities for single parents to work full-time. Among other things, an offer of flexibly available day-care places is crucial.
Significant deterioration for young women
According to the data, the study was compiled from data from the so-called Socio-Economic Panel, which comprehensively surveys about 30,000 people in nearly 11,000 households each year.
The health of single women declined on average on a ten-point scale by 0.5 points compared to women in partnerships, and even a whole point in terms of well-being. "This is a considerable deterioration for young women," says Kühn. Normally, the values in this age group changed only minimally.
Support especially in child care
Federal Family Minister Manuela Schwesig (SPD) shares Kühn's assessment: "Single parents need special support, especially in child care, so that they can be gainfully employed and be on their own two feet." If they lack support, they also need material support.
Federal Family Minister Schwesig pointed out that single parents and their children, who receive little or no support, are supported. These included, for example, the KitaPlus program, which promotes flexible childcare hours, and the expansion of the advance on maintenance.
In 2015, the state paid 440,000 child support advances. According to RP, the poverty risk for single parents is 44 percent, for couples it is 10 percent. Years ago it was pointed out that single-parent women are often over-indebted.
Quick introduction of the extended advance on maintenance
As RP writes, the association of lone mothers and fathers also urges a swift introduction of the extended advance on maintenance. Although the federal and state governments had agreed on principles, Schwesig's plans had stalled.
"Important is an early start," said Association Chairman Solveig Schuster in Berlin. "The reform must come as soon as possible." Bureaucracy chaos and high costs are feared by the municipalities.
The federal and state governments have not yet been able to agree on funding, but the main features have long since been decided. (Ad)