Factors related to Depression of Single-Parents with Minor Children: Focusing on the Gender Differences

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate gender differences as ecological factors associated with depression of single-parents who lived with minors. Methods: This study was secondary data analysis using national data from the 2018 Single Parent Family Survey, including 2,427 participants (1,575 mothers and 852 fathers). Data were analyzed using SPSS/MAC 26.0 program for the descriptive analysis, independent t-tests, chi-squared tests, and binary logistic regression. Results: The depression groups were identified as 17.4% for women and 11.0% for men based on Patient Health Questionnaire-9. In logistic regression, single mothers’ depression was significantly associated with low income, unemployment, low education level, parenting difficulties, a sense of distance from family, and family discrimination experiences. However, single fathers’ depression was significantly associated with low income, unemployment, and parenting difficulties. Conclusion: Our study findings suggest that depression interventions should be tailored to different gender groups of the single-parents, specifically socio-emotional factors should be considered for the single mother group. © 2022 The Korean Academy of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing.