The single-mother college student population has quietly grown to over two million undergraduate students over the last two decades, but most of them will not attain a degree. What has been missing is a better understanding of the lived experiences of successfully persisting single-mother college students as told by the women themselves. This phenomenological case study interviewed 11 students from a regional university in the southwestern portion of the United States. Four themes emerged as expressed by the participants themselves: "Just because you have a baby doesn't mean your life is over" (Rebekah); "In the middle of a test, my kid throws up" (Sarah); "They're building me to be independent" (Anna Maria); and "I'm really doing this" (Juno). Their synthesized lived experiences were expressed through the simile of a seasoned gymnast. Overall, they shared adeptness at resource management and problem solving, strategically using support while building resiliency and self-efficacy. This study of successfully persisting single-mother college students can aid institutions in improving their support mechanisms for these students.

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The general aims of this dissertation are to analyse how family situation, and especially lone parenting, influence health and life chances in Sweden and the extent to which possible relations are influenced by socioeconomic circumstances and health selection. In two population-based cohort studies we analysed overall and cause-specific mortality (1991-95), and also severe morbidity (1991-94) from different causes among lone mothers in comparison with mothers with partners. Information on the mothers was obtained from the Swedish Population and Housing censuses of 1985 and 1990. The outcomes considered were death or utilisation of (overnight) hospital care, with data taken from population-based national health registers. In the analyses we adjusted for socioeconomic and demographic circumstances, such as socioeconomic status, country of birth, receipt of social-welfare benefit, and housing situation. To take health-selection effects into account, we adjusted for previous inpatient history (1987-90). Our findings suggest that lone motherhood entails health disadvantages with regard to mortality, severe morbidity and injury. Socioeconomic circumstances were found to play a major role in accounting for increased risks, but the risks are partly independent of both socioeconomic conditions and health selection into lone motherhood. In two further studies we analysed mortality (1991-98), severe morbidity and injury (1991-99), and also educational achievement (in 1998 at ages 24-25 of offspring), of children who had lived in lone-parent families in comparison with children in two-parent families. We mainly used data from the Swedish censuses and national health-data registers. Living in a lone parent family was found to be associated with increased risks of a variety of unfavourable outcomes: psychiatric disease, suicide/suicide attempt, injury, addiction, and low educational attainment. Relatively poor educational performance and also health disadvantages are explicable to a large extent by socioeconomic conditions, especially a lack of economic resources (as measured here by receipt of social-welfare benefit and having rented accommodation). Educational achievement among children varies with cause of lone parenthood, with the best prospects found among the children of widows/widowers. In a fifth study we analysed mortality from different causes (1991-2000) among lone fathers (fathers with and without custody of their children) and childless men (with and without partners) in comparison with cohabiting fathers with children in the household. For this purpose we linked information from the Swedish censuses of 1985 and 1990 to Sweden’s Multi-Generation Register (which contains information about all known biological relations between children and parents). Lone non-custodial fathers and lone childless men suffer from the most pronounced elevated risks, especially of death from injury or addiction, but also from all-cause mortality and death from ischaemic heart disease. Being a lone custodial father also seems to entail an increased mortality risk, although generally to a much lesser degree, and not for all outcomes studied. The elevated risks for all subgroups fell when variables assumed to control health selection and socioeconomic circumstances were introduced into the initial regression model employed. However, even following adjustments, significantly increased risks, albeit greatly attenuated, remained in all the subgroups investigated. Key Words: Single parent, single mother, single father, children, risk factor, socio-economic status, mortality, morbidity, injury, psychiatric disease, education, epidemiology, longitudinal

本研究探討優勢觀點在單親親子團體方案中之操作情形及實際成效，長達七週的團體方案，以親子互動關係作為整體方案的焦點及主軸，並以冒險體驗及優勢觀點團體穿插的方式進行活動方案的整體設計及帶領。 資料收集方式為質量並行，在團體前、團體結束及團體結束後一個月，進行三次量化問卷施測；在團體方案開始及結束時，分別訪談參與團體之母親成員及團體領導者，以深入探討團體方案對參與家庭產生的影響及改變。 研究參與者共有四個家庭，研究結果簡要說明如下： 一、在量化資料方面： 1.親子互動關係：半數子女成員在親子互動關係方面，在「關愛」、「敬重」及「卑順」層面有正向的改變；而母親成員三次施測變動幅度不大，親子關係的六大面向中，「敬重」及「卑順」層面有正向的改變。 2.生活適應及身心健康：子女成員在生活適應方面，半數的子女成員在參與團體後有較佳的適應狀況，一位成員並無改變，一位成員適應狀況下滑；而四位母親成員之身心健康狀況並未因為團體方案的介入而有明顯的改善。 二、質性資料方面： 1.生活適應方面：離婚初期的婦女在經濟、就業、住所、子女教養等面向，遭遇無充足資源，並面臨在經濟就業及家庭照顧之間的抉擇。而社福資源、學校資源、心理諮商、醫療資源、就業的周邊效益、與外界接觸及環境因素是幫助這些婦女適應之適應因子。 2.親子互動關係：多數團體成員表示參與團體後親子關係有正向改變：(1)摩擦程度減少、(2)相處及肢體接觸增加、(3)學習新的親子互動方式、(4)親子界線的彈性及調整、(5)更理解彼此想法、(6) 增進對彼此的包容與耐心。 3.除親子關係的改善外，母親及子女在個人面也都有不同的改變，包含：(1)母親成員的改變有：看待事情的角度改變，重新理解親子關係的衝突，甚至有成員也應用到對於離婚事件的重新解讀、更多的反思及自我感增加；(2)子女成員的改變有：願意自我分享、耐心及自信增加、信任他人及學習獨自處理問題。 本文歸納優勢觀點在單親親子團體中的實務運用，及優勢觀點為基礎的親子團體是如何促進團體成員在親子互動關係的改善外，也企圖瞭解婦女在離婚初期在經濟、就業、住所、子女教養等面向之適應歷程，關注婦女們在單親過程所展現的不同樣態及適應因子，期待有助於家庭社會工作的實務發展及開展優勢觀點在不同層面的運用。 / This study applied strengths perspective on the single mother and child group with a focus on (a)the interaction between mother and child.(b) life adaption . Four families participated in the group; they met once a week and last for 7 weeks. The group activities were based on the protocol of Project Adventure and strengths perspective. This study adopted both quantitative and qualitative methods. The quantitative data was collected from both mother and child members at three times: before and after the group activity began, as well as one month after the last session. The results showed that: (a) Mother-child interaction-- 50% of the child members showed positive changes on 3 aspects (caring, respect and obedience), the mother members showed less changes, but still had positive effects on respect and obedience. (b) Life adaption & physical and mental health: 50% of the child members showed positive changes on life adaption. No significant change was found on the mothers The analysis of the qualitative data indicated that: (a) Resources on welfare, schooling, counseling, medical and employment could help the mother member to achieve better life adaption. (b) The interactions between mother and child revealed positive changes, including less conflict, more physical contacts, willing to learn new ways of interaction, flexible mother-child boundaries, being more patient and tolerance. (c) The mother members could reframe the meaning of divorce and conflicts, and had more self reflection. The child members were more willing to share feelings, had more patient and confidence, trusting others and learn to solve problems on their own. These findings suggest that the Strengths based group work were beneficial to the single mothers and their child. However, more studies are needed to replicate the program and further examine its effectiveness.

This thesis focuses on the public opinion on single mothers in emergency conditions in Český Krumlov region. The theoretical part defines single mother and single parent family. The fact that in many European countries the numbers of single parent families is increasing is stressed out. The theoretical part describes the changes in models of family behavior have been experienced in the last decades and factors which influence them. Also, basic facts on single families in the Czech Republic are presented e.g. female or male single parent family, their age, reasons for single family, social status, numbers and percentage of children born to single parents within last twenty years etc. In addition particular reasons of becoming a single mother are explained e.g. divorce, single parenting, becoming a widow. A phenomenon of domestic violence is closely related to the subject of single mother, therefore it is dealt with here too. The theoretical part conclusion shows principal reasons which cause that single mothers get into emergency conditions. The practical part presents a research which focuses on public opinions on single mothers in emergency conditions in Český Krumlov region. The field research was conducted through the method of a questionnaire. The focus group was public in Český Krumlov region. The aim of the field research was to map public opinions of Český Krumlov region residents on single mothers in emergency conditions. The research showed that single parent (mother) families are considered to be a group with the highest risks to be exposed to low standard of living. At the same time more than 50 % or respondents think that the most obvious reason for single mother to be in a critical life situation are economic troubles and lack of finance. An important fact which contributed to this result is that more than one quarter of respondents thinks that their current economic situation is not easy or even critical. In respect to domestic violence issue, the research showed that more than half of respondents believe that domestic violence against women by their spouses is mainly a results men aggressive behavior. The most frequent answer picked was aggressiveness initiated by the use of alcohol and drugs, than aggressive behavior inborn i.e. genetic predisposition to act aggressively and aggressive conduct like a way how to escape and resolve life situations which may appear to be unsolvable and an aggressor is not able to control her behavior. Public sees domestic violence to be a serious problem which is mainly present in single mother families. The most of respondents believe that domestic violence against mothers and children is the most frequent reason for single mothers to apply for subsidized single parent accommodation. The results also show that more than 60 % of respondents understand what domestic violence is and that very often victims never tell anyone and keep it secret even though they suffer for years. It is assumed that in this respect, public sees the relation between domestic violence and torturing victims in early childhood. More than 60 % of respondents believe that prevailing numbers of women who are victims of domestic violence in their childhood are victims of domestic violence also when they grow up mainly because of their previous experience when low self-confidence and violence become a part of their daily life even though hard bearing.

In the diploma thesis, objectives were set that were intended to find out medical, mental and social problems of women after complicated childbirth and to compare the problems with those of women after physiological childbirth. The other objective was to find out what kinds of complicated deliveries occur in Nemocnice Písek, a.s. /Písek Hospital/ the most. Hypotheses were set for the objectives. The first hypothesis was to confirm that birth injuries after complicated childbirth are healed per secundam. The second hypothesis was to confirm that women after complicated childbirth feel that they will not manage care for their family. The third hypothesis was to confirm problems with economic support of a family in the cases of single mothers after complicated childbirth. The fourth hypothesis was to confirm that women after complicated childbirth do not have enough information about social security. The fifth hypothesis was to confirm that in Písek Hospital, the most frequent complicated deliveries include Cesarean sections.

Thesis (M. A. (Social Work)) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / The phenomenon of absent fathers continues to be one of the major social problems which affect families globally. This study has examined the experiences of adolescent boys who grow up without fathers in single-mother families in Bakenberg village in Limpopo Province. The objectives of this study were to establish the experiences of adolescent boys with absent fathers, to describe the challenges faced by adolescent boys in growing up without a father and to determine their understanding of the role and value of having a father. A qualitative approach was used for this study. This approach was complemented by the use of a descriptive phenomenological research design for its focus on lived human experiences and the meanings participants assigned to those experiences. A purposive sampling technique was used to collect data from 18 adolescent boys through face-to-face interviews and as well as focus group discussions. The data collected was analysed using the thematic analysis method. The findings of this study showed that participants regarded fathers as an important figure in their lives and their families and his absence brought about financial challenges, poor academic progress, indulgence in alcohol and smoking brought about by negative outside influences as well as lack of immediate gender role model. The study also revealed that in the absence of fathers, these boys end up being compelled to play the role of the man in their families. For the participants in this study, other male figures such as uncles and grandfathers played a vital role in as far as gender specific roles and identity development is concerned. The study encourages more research into issues that impact negatively the children in one-parent families. The study also draws attention to the necessity to discover the reasons for the disintegration of the family structure, thereby highlighting a serious national and global problem which needs to be addressed for the health and well-being of our people because families form the foundation of a country‟s citizenry.

In this essay we have chosen to study single mothers who in conjunction with their parental leave have chosen to change career direction. Through personal and previous experiences during our time at Malmö University we have come into contact with single mothers who had gone through a journey such as the one described which in form led us to question what influences this group and how guidance counsellors can guide them through these turning-points. To be able to identify the reasons for the change of career direction we have chosen to use the following questions: What factors have influenced single mothers'  who have decided to change career direction? Have single mothers' views on their career development changed in the context of parenthood? If so, how? How can career counsellors best guide single mothers in their career transitions?     We have carried out qualitative interviews with six informants who have decided to change career direction by studying or changing workplace. The theoretical framework this essay will be analysed through is based on Bourdieu's research regarding habitus, capital and fields and Hodkinson and Sparkes’ Careership Theory and its horizons of action, turning-points and periods of routine.     The results state that many single mothers, mainly those who have worked in the tourism-, restaurant- or event business previous to their parenthood find it difficult to combine those fields of work with the responsibility of being a single parent. As a result they have either tried to find jobs that fit with their new needs or they have chosen to study. The decision to study has been one with dual purposes; one being the possibility of a higher paying job, for which an education is quite important in Sweden, and the other being the freedom it gives you as the parent of a young child to shape your schedule to fit your current situation.