Single Mothers: Strategies of Family Management and Support Systems in Relation to Health

Abstract

The status of women in contemporary society is a vital aspect of debates concerning gender inequality, women’s subordination, violence against women, and women’s empowerment. The responses of women to these problems vary across different social and spatial categories. One of the significant responses is the change in the family structure that leads to the emergence of single-parent families, particularly single-mother families. Few studies in the Indian context deal with the causes of rising numbers of single-mother families. Furthermore, there are no significant studies concerning the issues single mothers face. Being single and a mother is a significant challenge for a woman in Indian society. A divorced single mother faces various constraints and challenges while leading a household after the marital disruption. Single mothers face many physical and psychological problems, including taking care of herself and children in matters of health and well-being. The present study investigates the constraints of divorced single mothers concerning their social support systems and family management strategies as they influence mental and physical health. The study is an outcome of twenty-five case studies of divorced single mothers residing in Hyderabad, India. The results are drawn using interpretive phenomenological analysis.