scholarly journals Mothers Left without a Man: Poverty and Single Parenthood in China

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 114-122
Author(s):  
Qin Li
Keyword(s):  
Single Mothers ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Family Policy ◽  
Division Of Labour ◽  
Chinese Family ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Single Parenthood ◽  
Social Stereotypes ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
Family Beliefs

Most single-parent families in China are headed by women, and single mothers represent one of the fastest-growing groups living in poverty. Yet few studies have examined this group. This article seeks to better understand how (and why) single mothers are disadvantaged in China. Based on in-depth interviews conducted in Zhuhai, Guangzhou Province, it demonstrates that single mothers are left behind in four respects: lower income and worse economic conditions, lower employment and career development opportunities, worse physical and mental health, and poorer interpersonal relationships and less chance of remarriage. The causes of these disadvantages include Chinese family beliefs, a culture of maternal sacrifice, the traditional division of labour between men and women and social stereotypes about single mothers. The article highlights the impacts of Chinese familism culture on single mothers and advocates incorporating a gender perspective into the agenda of family policy and other relevant social policies in China.

scholarly journals Policy Changes, Employment, and Single Parenthood in Finland

2005 ◽  
pp. 29-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katja Forssén ◽  
Anita Haataja ◽  
Mia Hakovirta
Keyword(s):  
Labor Market ◽  
Single Mothers ◽  
Family Policy ◽  
Parental Leave ◽  
Work And Family ◽  
Main Question ◽  
Policy System ◽  
Single Parenthood ◽  
The Family ◽  
Market Status

The labor supply of mothers is in? uenced by womens preferences and labor market conditions, as well as by family policy packages which enable families to reconcile work and family life. This article deepens the understanding about why Finnish single mothers are facing higher unemployment risks than mothers in two-parent families. The main question is how the changes in the Finnish family policy system have affected the economic and labor market status of single mothers in the last part of the 1990s. Have the changes in family policy affected their entry / re-entry into the labor market? Or can these changes in employment rate be explained by mothers personal decisions. Single parents were more vulnerable compared to partnered mothers in parental leave reforms and in the Family reform package in 1994. Changes in the labor market have had an impact on the situation of mothers with small children. One group of mothers can enjoy the full provision of leaves, bene? ts and job security, but an increased share of mothers have become dependent on only basic bene? ts. In this respect, the inequality among mothers has increased.

The Impact of Social Stereotypes on the Integration Process of Arab Immigrants in European Countries

Diogenes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga Stoyanova-Encheva ◽  
◽  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
European Society ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Integration Process ◽  
Social Stereotypes ◽  
Awareness Campaigns ◽  
Arab Immigrants ◽  
Sensitive Issue ◽  
The Media ◽  
The Impact

The manifestation of stereotypes, prejudices and discrimination on ethnic, religious and/or gender grounds is an extremely sensitive issue in contemporary European society. It influences the perception of Arab immigrants in intergroup and interpersonal relationships in many European countries. Furthermore, the lack of awareness campaigns in the media and the existing ineffective policies lead to stigmatization of an entire homogeneous group of the population, hindering the processes of integration and socialization.

scholarly journals Psychosocial Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Patients with End-Stage Kidney Disease on Hemodialysis

Kidney360 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (12) ◽  
pp. 1390-1397
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Lee ◽  
Jennifer Steel ◽  
Maria-Eleni Roumelioti ◽  
Sarah Erickson ◽  
Larissa Myaskovsky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Emotional Health ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Psychosocial Health ◽  
Poor Sleep ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Home Dialysis ◽  
Clinical Criteria ◽  
Housing Security ◽  
Negative Effect

BackgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may have a negative effect on the mental and social health of patients with ESKD on chronic in-center hemodialysis (HD), who have a high burden of psychologic symptoms at baseline and unavoidable treatment-related COVID exposures. The goal of our study was to assess the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychosocial health of patients on chronic in-center HD.MethodsParticipants enrolled in the ongoing Technology Assisted Collaborative Care (TĀCcare) trial in Western Pennsylvania and New Mexico were approached for participation in a phone survey in May 2020. Data on the pandemic’s effects on participants’ physical and mental health, symptoms (such as anxiety, mood, loneliness, sleep, and stress), and food and housing security were collected.ResultsSurveys were completed by 49 participants (mean age 56 years; 53% men, 18% Black, 20% American Indian, and 22% Hispanic). Almost 80% of participants reported being moderately to extremely worried about the pandemic’s effects on their mental/emotional health and interpersonal relationships. More than 85% of the participants were worried about obtaining their dialysis treatments due to infection risk from close contact in the dialysis facility or during transportation. Despite this, 82% of participants reported being not at all/slightly interested in trying home dialysis as an alternative option. Overall, 27% of the participants had clinical levels of depressive symptoms but only 12% had anxiety meeting clinical criteria. About 33% of participants reported poor sleep quality over the last month. Perceived stress was high in about 30% of participants and 85% felt overwhelmed by difficulties with COVID-19, although 41% felt that things were fairly/very often going their way.ConclusionsOur study provides preliminary insights into the psychosocial distress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic among a diverse cohort of patients receiving chronic HD who are participating in an ongoing clinical trial.

scholarly journals Maintaining “mianzi” and “lizi”: Understanding the reasons for formality marriages between gay men and lesbians in China

2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 213-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
ZhengJia Ren ◽  
Catherine Q. Howe ◽  
Wei Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Gay Men ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Filial Piety ◽  
Moral Distress ◽  
Social Systems ◽  
Work Place ◽  
Chinese Family ◽  
Health Campaigns ◽  
Family Work

As a result of societal expectations and to avoid societal homophobia, many lesbians and gay men in China marry heterosexual partners and do not disclose their own sexual orientation. This study used qualitative methods to explore why gay men enter into such marriages of convenience. A total of 17 in-depth interviews were conducted with lesbians and gay men who had entered “formality marriages.” All interviews were digitally recorded for transcription; transcripts were analyzed using grounded theory to determine themes. The reasons for engaging in formality marriage can be grouped into broad categories, including: maintaining mianzi (reputation) and lizi (inner reality), avoiding moral distress, social discrimination, working in tizhi (social systems), accounting for their social relationships, and fulfilling filial piety. From our model we can see growing up as a member of a minority sexual orientation group means being discriminated against and marginalized in the family, work place, community, and society at large. Formality marriages not only offer a way to maintain one’s personal and family reputation ( mianzi) in different contexts, but also avoid moral distress and maintain a personal private sexual orientation ( lizi) with their own homosexual partner. Formality marriage serves as a compromise to ensure cultural continuity, and it harmonizes individuals’ interpersonal relationships and traditional Chinese family values. Understanding the reasons for formality marriage practices can help health professionals to create public health campaigns to dispel stereotypes and stigma about homosexuality, and to develop culturally sensitive services for homosexual populations.

Valores que os Estudantes de Psicologia Consideram Necessários para Serem Felizes

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 444
Author(s):  
Nelson Pedro-Silva ◽  
Marcos Henriques Freiria
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Public University ◽  
First Year ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
The Public ◽  
De Se ◽  
The Public Sphere ◽  
Personal Interests

Este artigo analisa os valores que os universitários, segundo seus próprios pares, consideram importantes para serem felizes. Participaram da pesquisa 161 estudantes do 1º ano de Psicologia de uma Universidade pública do interior paulista, de ambos os sexos, com idade entre 17 e 21 anos. Os resultados informaram que: a) os sujeitos consideram que o mais importante para ser feliz se relaciona à amizade (52,8%), à riqueza (18,0%) e à saúde física e psíquica (11,2%), isto é, aspectos mais afeitos à dimensão ética e às formas de glória; b) os sujeitos praticamente não mencionaram a esfera pública, manifestando certa visão individualista e ingênua, já que é impossível a concretização destes valores, sem considerar os públicos; c) quanto à amizade, os sujeitos a consideram como uma forma de se adaptar a uma nova realidade, distante dos familiares e/ou por associar o seu estabelecimento com a felicidade; d) a intenção de ter amigos se refere à demanda por ter as mesmas gratificações obtidas na família, como a de apoio emocional, assim, a amizade pretendida não está calcada na reciprocidade, pois o outro é visto apenas como meio para viabilizar a satisfação de interesses pessoais; e) no tocante à saúde, os sujeitos argumentaram que ela é condição vital para se obter a felicidade; f) de maneira semelhante, manifestaram justificativas quanto à riqueza, isto é, embora não seja condição suficiente, é necessária para concretizar os desejos que podem torná-los felizes. Foi possível concluir que fatores materiais (riqueza) e ligados ao estabelecimento de relações interpessoais são os aspectos julgados necessários para se alcançar a felicidade. Palavras-chave: Felicidade. Universitários. Valores.AbstractThis article analyzes the values that university students, according to their own peers, consider important to be happy. The subjects of the research were 161 undergraduates of both sexes, aged 17 to 21 years, of the first year of the psychology major of a public university in the interior of Sao Paulo state. Results indicated that: (a) the subjects consider that the most important to be happy is friendship (52.8%), wealth (18.0%), and physical and mental health (11.2%), that is, aspects more related to the ethical dimension and forms of glory; (b) most subjects did not mention the public sphere, and thus manifested a certain individualistic and naive view, since it is impossible to achieve these values without considering the public ones; (c) as for friendship, the subjects consider it a way to adapt to a new reality, far from their families,  and/or associate its establishment with happiness; (d) the intention to have friends refers to a demand for the same gratification obtained in their families, such as emotional support, and thus the desired friendship is not grounded in reciprocity, because the other is seen only as a means to enable the satisfaction of personal interests; (e) regarding  health, the subjects argued that it is a vital condition to obtain happiness; (f) as for wealth, they expressed similar justifications, that is, although wealth is not sufficient, it is necessary to achieve the desires that can make them happy. It was possible to conclude that material factors (wealth) and factors linked to the establishment of interpersonal relationships are the ones deemed necessary for happiness. Keywords: Happiness; university students; values. 

Coping with the Dual Demands of Severe Mental Illness and Parenting: The Parents' Perspective

2003 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barry J. Ackerson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Severe Mental Illness ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Role Reversal ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Single Parenthood ◽  
Sources Of Support ◽  
Boundary Issues

The experience of parenthood by individuals with severe mental illness has not been well studied. Research on mentally ill parents has focused on their pathology and the potential risk for their children without considering the parents' perspective. This qualitative study used interviews to explore how these parents coped with the dual demands of parenthood and their illness. Participants included individuals whose children are now young adults as well as those with younger children. Themes that emerged were problems with diagnosis and treatment, stigma, chaotic interpersonal relationships, the strain of single parenthood, custody issues, relationship with children, social support, and pride in being a parent. Follow-up interviews focused on the themes of relationship with children, strain of single parenthood, and sources of support. Relationship with children contained three specific topics: discipline, boundary issues, and role reversal. Implications for practice are discussed along with recommendations for future research involving other family members.

scholarly journals Life Challenges and Mental Health Issues of Single Mothers: A Systematic Examination

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2S10) ◽  
pp. 48-52
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Single Mothers ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Analysis ◽  
Life Challenges ◽  
Negative Coping

As the number of single mothers worldwide increases, their challenges and health issues were discussed in the previous literature. This systematic analysis aims to reveal mental health problems of single-mothers and discuss the adversities faced by them. Financial hardship was seemingly the most significant problem among the low incomes, unemployed and poor single mothers, which showed that poverty and mental health problems were inextricably related. Several factors were found in this study, which has led the single mothers to poverty, such as lowincome employment, large numbers of self-employment, unemployed, low education level, lack of adequate skills and age factor. In addition to that, numerous lines of research have indicated that low social support from the surrounding area was the factor of the distress of single mothers. Previous studies showed that single mothers use negative coping strategies, for example, consuming drugs, cigarettes, alcohol, and antidepressants to alleviate the effects of stressful life. These coping strategies were found to be harmful to their physical and mental health. Therefore, suggestions and recommendations are provided to improve the lives of single mothers and their children to accomplish quality of life.

scholarly journals The Families of Single Mothers in the Context of Family Policy in Lithuania

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 8-21
Author(s):  
Greta Skubiejutė
Keyword(s):  
Single Mothers ◽  
Family Policy

Vienų motinų šeimos yra viena iš opiausių problemų Europoje dėl augančio tokių šeimų skaičiaus, gilėjančio skurdo, kuris siejamas su familializmo ideologijos ir skurdo feminizacijos padariniais. Šeimos politika tam tikrų keliamų problemų kontekste kuria sąlygas vienų vaikus auginančių moterų šeimoms gyvuoti arba uždaro į skurdo ratą. Nors Lietuvoje yra nemažai vienų motinų šeimų skurdo tyrimų, tačiau nėra išsamaus šeimos politikos tikslų ir priemonių tyrimo, kuris gali padėti suprasti, kodėl, augant ekonomikai ir kintant demografijai, vienų motinų šeimos yra labiausiai skurstanti šeimų grupė Lietuvoje. Tad tyrimo tikslas – išsiaiškinti, kaip Lietuvos šeimos politikoje yra (ne)atpažįstamos vienų vaikus auginančių moterų šeimos ir kokios sąlygos egzistuoti joms sudaromos šeimos politikos įstatymų kontekste. Tikslui pasiekti buvo kokybiškai analizuoti įvairūs įstatymai iš MISSOC ir Lietuvos Respublikos Seimo dokumentų duomenų bazių. Tyrimo rezultatai rodo, kad Lietuvos šeimos politikos kontekste aiškiai jaučiama familializmo ideologija, siekiama stiprinti ir didinti branduolinių šeimų ir daugiavaikių šeimų skaičių, tikintis išspręsti demografines problemas. Vienų motinų šeimos politikoje nėra matomos, nėra įvardijamos kaip politikos prioritetas ir į akiratį patenka tik tada, kai atsiduria socialiai remtinų šeimų grupėje. Taip pat yra siejamos su diskriminuojančiomis sąvokomis, tokiomis kaip „nepilna šeima“.

scholarly journals Family policies’ long-term effects on poverty: a comparative analysis of single and partnered mothers

2022 ◽  
pp. 095892872110356
Author(s):  
Hannah Zagel ◽  
Wim Van Lancker
Keyword(s):  
Life Course ◽  
Single Mothers ◽  
Transition To Parenthood ◽  
Family Policy ◽  
Parental Leave ◽  
The Other ◽  
Family Policies ◽  
Child Benefits ◽  
The Life Course ◽  
Over Time

This study investigates whether generous family policies at the transition to parenthood reduce single and partnered mothers’ economic disadvantages later in the life course. Previous research usually focused on the immediate effects of family policies and disregards potential longer-term effects. In this study, we suggest taking a life-course perspective to study the relationships between family policy and mothers’ poverty risks. We empirically investigate how investment in child benefits, childcare services and parental leave measures at the transition to parenthood are associated with poverty outcomes at later life stages and whether these associations hold over time. We draw on pooled EU-SILC data, and an original policy dataset based on OECD expenditure data for child benefits, childcare and parental leave from 1994 to 2015. We find that mothers’ observed increase in poverty over time is slower in countries with high levels of spending for childcare at the transition to parenthood than in lower spending countries. The gap between partnered and single mothers was also diminishing in contexts of high childcare expenditure. For the other two policies, we did not find these links. These results do lend support to the claim that childcare is a prime example of a social investment policy with returns later in the life course and represents a life-course policy that seems to be able to disrupt economic path dependencies. The results for the other two policies suggest, however, a limited potential of family policy spending at transition to parenthood to reduce the poverty gap between partnered and single mothers over the course of life.

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