Peer-reviewed article
Psychological Distress and Self-Rated Health Among Single Fathers and Mothers During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan.
Kuniyoshi Y, Uezato A, Tabuchi T ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This peer-reviewed study compares psychological distress and self-rated health outcomes between single and partnered parents in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic using survey data from 2020-2022. The research found that single parents reported significantly higher rates of psychological distress and poorer health than partnered parents, with disparities linked to lower income and nonregular employment. The study concludes that single parents faced heightened vulnerability during the pandemic and recommends targeted economic support.
Key points
- Single parents had significantly higher psychological distress (K6 score ≥5) and poor self-rated health than partnered parents across 2020-2022
- Single mothers comprised 1,330 of the 1,530 single parents studied; single fathers numbered 200
- Adjusted odds ratios for psychological distress were 1.50-2.18 for single fathers and 1.23-1.66 for single mothers compared to partnered parents
- Single parents reported lower household incomes and higher rates of nonregular employment
- Health disparities persisted across all stratified analyses by household structure, income, occupation, and working hours
Limitations
This study measures adult parent outcomes and does not directly assess child well-being, development, or welfare during the pandemic. The cross-sectional design cannot establish causation, and the study is limited to Japan's context during COVID-19.
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated health burdens, particularly for vulnerable populations. Single parents face unique preexisting challenges, and their health during the pandemic remains insufficiently investigated. We aimed to compare psychological distress and self-rated health (SRH) between single and partnered parents during the pandemic, considering the influence of socioeconomic factors. Methods We analyzed the data of 16,028 parents aged 18-50 years with children aged 14 years or younger from the Japan COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey (JACSIS) 2020-2022. Psychological distress (Kessler K6 scale, ≥ 5) and SRH (very poor or poor) were compared between single (200 single fathers/1330 single mothers) and partnered parents using chi-squared tests and multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for confounders. Furthermore, household structure, annual household income, occupation, and working hours were stratified for the analysis. Results Across 2020-2022, psychological distress and poor SRH were significantly more prevalent among single parents than among partnered parents. Single parents also reported lower income and higher nonregular employment. These disparities persisted across the stratifications. Multivariable logistic regression confirmed higher adjusted odds ratios for psychological distress (single fathers: 1.50-2.18; single mothers: 1.23-1.66) and poor SRH (single fathers: 0.74-2.93; single mothers: 1.26-1.79) associated with single-parent status. Conclusions During the COVID-19 pandemic, single parents in Japan experienced greater psychological distress and poorer SRH than partnered ones, highlighting their heightened vulnerability. Therefore, targeted support, particularly addressing economic hardship, is crucial to mitigate these health disparities and improve the resilience of single-parent households during public health emergencies.