chapter 9

Question 1

lone parent families

Answer 1

There has been a significant increase in the number of lone-parent families in Canada in recent decades.
16% of all families in Canada are lone-parent families (Statistics Canada, 2011)
Shift over time from predominantly widowed families to separated/divorced families
More female headed (80%) than male headed (20%)

Question 2

increase of lone parent families due to

Answer 2

1. Less Stigma Attached to Lone-Parents
2. Increase in Never Married Mothers
   Fewer adolescents give babies up for adoption
   Fewer people marry because only because they are pregnant
   More women are becoming mothers outside of marriage/common-law relationships
3. Increased Divorce Rates
4. Economic Factors

Question 3

types of lone parent families

Answer 3

1. Never Married Lone-Parents (31.5%)
2. Widowed-Lone Parents (17.7%)
3. Separated/Divorced Lone-Parents (50.8%)

Question 4

never married lone parents

Answer 4

Why women chose to have children:
	Social/cultural changes
	Desire to nurture
  	Social support for decision
	Financial autonomy

Teen Parents:
Decline in number
1999 - 18.9 births for every 1000 women aged 15-19
2011 – 12.6 births for every 1000 women aged 15-19
Perplexing because of developments in contraception technology
Academic, economic and developmental consequences

Question 5

teen mothers

Answer 5

Young parents, married or not, are more likely to be poor than older ones.
The kind of support the young teen receives from her own parents and other relatives may prove crucial for her future.
Education helps to counter the negative impact that being a teen mother has on labour force participation and low income

Question 6

widowed lone parents

Answer 6

Tend to be older
Children are older
More financial resources

Question 7

seperated/divorced lone parents

Answer 7

Largest group
Most studied group
Research examines stressors/challenges that also apply to other groups

Question 8

stressors/challenges of lone parent families: income

Answer 8

One quarter (23%) of female lone-parent families below poverty level in 2011
More than 70% of Aboriginal lone-parent families below poverty level (Hallett, 2006).
Children in female headed lone-parent families almost four times more likely to be poor than children in two-parent families

Question 9

stressors/challenges of lone parent families: increased parenting stress

Answer 9

Increased Parenting Stress: (Lynn, 2003; Sauvé, 2009)
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Time (role overload/role conflict)
Child care
Sick children
Worry over quality of life for children

Question 10

how mothers cope with being a lone parent

Answer 10

Compromise jobs
Compromise social life
Compromise health (sleep, diet etc.)
Develop strong support networks

Question 11

mothers perception

Answer 11

Satisfaction
Independence
Better situation for their children

Question 12

lone fathers

Answer 12

Understudied/Lack of information
In 2011, only one in five single parents were men
Fewer lone fathers due to:
Custody of children is usually granted to the mother
Women live longer than men and are more likely to become single parents through widowhood

Question 13

difference in stressors

Answer 13

More fathers have jobs
Higher incomes
Fewer financial concerns (7% lived below poverty line in 2008)
Other stressors similar to lone mothers E.g. Time (role overload/role conflict)

Question 14

issues around lone parenthood

Answer 14

All statistical forecasts suggest that the number of lone-parent families will increase, especially as the result of divorce.
The level of poverty is high among lone parents.
Therefore….
It is important, especially for the sake of the children, to eliminate the stigma against lone-parent families that remains in society and to consider building necessary supports.