Does Social Capital Help to Explain Mental Health Disparities Between Single and Partnered Parents in Canada>
Date
2013-07-29
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ORCID
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Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
Some evidence suggests that single parents may experience lower social capital than partnered parents. However, few studies have examined whether social capital is useful in explaining the frequently reported mental health differential between single and coupled parents. The research questions for the current study were: 1) can disparities in mental health between single and partnered parents be explained by differences between these groups in social capital, above and beyond that explained by economic factors?; and 2) Are there particular dimensions of social capital which are more or less strongly associated with family structure disparities in mental health?
The data source was Statistics Canada’s 2010 General Social Survey (Cycle 22). Analysis was restricted to 18-59 year old single (n=648) and partnered (n=4952) parents. Principal components analysis was conducted to develop a measure of social capital. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between family structure and perceived mental health, prior to and after adjusting for socioeconomic and social capital measures. All analyses were conducted separately for mothers and fathers.
Single mothers scored lower than partnered mothers on some, but not all measures of social capital. Poor mental health was more common among single than partnered mothers (OR=3.03, 95% CI 2.23-4.12). After adjustment for all explanatory factors, including social capital, the odds ratio for family structure and mental health decreased but remained statistically significant (OR=2.13, 95% CI 1.48-3.3.06).
Although single fatherhood was associated with a 1.81 greater odds of fair/poor self-rated mental health compared to partnered fathers, the difference did not meet the traditional criterion for statistical significance (95% CI 0.97-3.37;
p=.06). Single fathers did not score differently than partnered fathers on most of the social capital dimensions.
Although social capital, particularly the dimension of trust, may play a role in understanding single mothers’ poorer self-rated mental health relative to partnered mothers, the results of this study are too preliminary to inform policy directed at improving their mental well-being. Longitudinal research which includes a larger sample of single fathers is needed to clarify the nature of the relationship between family structure, social capital, and mental health
Description
Keywords
Social Capital, Mental Health, Single Parents
Citation
Degree
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Department
Community Health and Epidemiology
Program
Community and Population Health Science