Significant Life Experiences and Depression among Single and Married Mothers

Abstract

We examine the relationships among early family adversities, depression, and family status using a sample of single and married mothers. Regardless of whether they are never-married or separated or divorced, single mothers report higher lifetime and 1-year prevalence rates of depression than married mothers. By examining the connections among adversities, depressive episodes, and family status, we demonstrate the importance of early adversities in childhood and adolescence in explaining these differences in depression according to marital status. Specifically, higher rates of depression among single mothers are due, in part, to a greater likelihood of early childhood adversities, which then increase the risk for early onset of depression. Interestingly, women whose childhoods have been relatively free of adversities are more likely either to report no depressive episodes or to have a later onset of depression. These latter trajectories are more common among married than among single mothers. We discuss the relevance of these findings for understanding the interplay of stressful experience, depressive illness, and family status. Key Words: childhood adversities, depression, family structure, single mothers, stress. Recent increases in the number of divorces and births out of marriage have led to a rise in the number of single-parent families in North America, the majority of which are headed by women. These changes have broad implications for the psychological well-being of family members, particularly mothers and their children. As numerous researchers have documented, the economic and social conditions associated with single parenthood frequently result in a variety of stressors and chronic strains that lead to elevated levels of psychological distress and clinical depression (Doherty, Su, & Needle, 1991; Hetherington, Cox, & Cox, 1981; McLanahan, 1983, 1985). These observations are consistent with the well-known stress process formulation (Pearlin, 1989; Pearlin, Lieberman, Menaghan, & Mullan, 1981) that postulates that individuals' locations in the social structure expose them to various types of stresses and strains that ultimately manifest themselves in feelings of distress (cf. Avison & Gotlib, 1994, for an overview). Within this theoretical context, many researchers argue that the stress often accompanying the experience of being a single parent and the absence of protective resources such as high self-esteem, mastery, or social support adversely affect mental health. This research does much to inform us about the challenges these women face; however, a focus on current circumstances provides only a partial picture of why marital and parental statuses affect mental health. Although current statuses may be proximal determinants of depression, they obviously cannot shed much light on the distal determinants or origins of depression. In our view, a more complete understanding of the link between single parenthood and mental health requires consideration of these women's backgrounds. It seems important to appreciate that the relationship between single parenthood and mental health is, in part, a reflection of earlier social experiences. Indeed, various research findings are consistent with this premise. For example, research indicates that the onset of depressive disorder frequently occurs in early adulthood (Robins & Regier, 1991), with a significant proportion occurring in childhood and adolescence (Sorenson, Rutter, & Aneshensel, 1991). Moreover, most current cases of major depression among adults are recurrences rather than first episodes (Kessler & Magee, 1993, 1994a, 1994b). These observations strongly suggest that some of the important precursors of depression are to be found in childhood or adolescence. Therefore, to focus only on the circumstances associated with single parenthood neglects the prior experiences that these women bring into their adult marital and parenting roles-that is, life histories that may either exacerbate or diminish their risk of depression. …