Stress, Coping, and Social Support among Single Mothers - Essay Example

?Stress, Coping, and Social Support Among Single Mothers The joy felt by a mother, especially upon seeing her healthy new born, is incomparable and the essence of being a mother can lift a woman’s spirit on the lowest times in her life. However, parenthood can also be a stressful responsibility. If a cohabitating couple finds parenting a challenging role, how much more does a single mother feels about raising a child alone? Oftentimes, a single mother experiences more stress compared to a mother with cohabitating male partner because the supposedly sharing of responsibility in raising the child is impaired coupled with the psychological factors related to single-parenthood. If stress is left untreated, this may lead to life altering health complications that may also affect the child, thus coping with the challenges of single-parenthood and social support are of core importance. To start with, it shall be emphasized that single mothers, in this study, refers to those women who were separated, divorced, widowed, or never been married living with at least one child (minor age). The number of single-parent families, majority of which is headed by women, grew substantially since the 1960’s as a result of increasing rates of divorce and separation (Avison, Aneshensel, Scheiman, and Wheaton 73). In the most recent census in the U.S., about 84% of 13.7 million single parents are single mothers (Grall 1; Wolf n. pag.); 45% are currently divorce or separated; 34.2% have never been married; 19% are married (usually remarried); and 1.7% are widowed (Wolf). Wolf added that 79% of single mothers are employed and those who work in full-time basis are much greater (71.7%) compared to part-time basis workers (18.4%). In relation to poverty, 27% of single mothers live in poverty and in terms of public assistance or support, 22% receive Medicaid, 23.5% receive food stamps, 12% receive public housing or rent subsidy, and 5% receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Wolf n. pag.). In connection to stress, it is important to understand what stress is all about. According to Dr. Stoppler (1), stress, in general, is related to external (physical environment, job, relationships with others, and all situations, challenges, difficulties, and expectations occurring everyday) and internal (body’s ability to respond) factors. When a stressor comes in, our body’s rapid and automatic defense would be a “fight-or-flight--a reaction called the stress response (Smith, Segal, R., and Segal, J. n. pag.). The three components of the body involved in response to stress are: (1) the brain that immediately responds to release epinephrine and norepinephrine, (2) the hypothalamus and pituitary gland transmitting signal to the adrenal cortex to release cortisol and other hormones, and (3) the many neural (nerve) circuits involved in the behavioral response (Stoppler 4). Though a certain level of stress can motivate an individual to perform well under pressure (Smith, et al n. pag.), however, a stress-out lifestyle is more likely an unhealthy one because it can affect the person’s eating habit that may result either to weight loss (due to lack of time to prepare healthy foods) or weight gain (to fill an emotional need and partly due to the effect of high level of cortisol during stress that stimulates fat, carbohydrate, and insulin) (Stoppler 1). Focusing on stress among single mothers, Scott (n. pag.) said that most mothers, generally, feel stress in the following areas: (1) time demands, (2) finances, (3) relationship demands, (4) protective instincts, (5) self doubt, and (6) time alone. A single mother carries all stress in these areas with no male partner to share with, thus parenting is more burdensome to them compared to two-parent family. Studies consistently found out that single mothers have high levels of psychological distress and high rates of major depression than married mothers (Avison, et al 73). More specifically, separated or divorced mothers have higher rates of depression, dysthymia (a mood disorder), generalized anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD (Avison, et al 73). Other non-psychological challenges mentioned by Avison, et al (73) of single mothers include economic hardship and poverty, caregiving stress, and lack of social support. The negative health consequences of single motherhood were also found in the American Sociological Review participated by 13,000 unmarried mothers (when they had their first child) and these were stress associated with non-marital childbearing and economic disadvantages (Pearson n. pag.). Pearson furthered that researchers found that subsequent relationships among these unmarried single mothers, generally, do not have significant difference in their health status possibly because of the general stress brought about by cohabitating. But on the part of a single mother who left an unhappy and stressful marriage like Dr. Klungness (a cofounder of Single Motherhood) who explicitly said that though single parenting predisposes mothers to greater stress, however, health and overall well-being greatly improved after leaving a stressful marriage (Pearson n. pag.). Furthermore, single mothers’ stress can be overwhelming and detrimental to health once it reaches the chronic stage, thus, prompt management and coping are essential to decrease the risk of having more serious health problems. Engber and Klungness (136-137) suggested simple cures for single mothers in coping up with common symptoms of stress; Constant Fatigue will be alleviated through having enough sleep and discovering natural sleep-inducing techniques (warm bath, relaxing over a cup of tea or milk, reading, deep breathing) in case of insomnia; Frequent Illness will be tapered by eating nutritious foods and staying away from energy zappers like sweets and highly processed foods while avoiding smoking; Diet Deficiencies will be combated by eating foods rich in beta-carotene and vitamins C and E; Depression can be lowered by daily exercise and by seeking out a support group or talking with a counselor, friend, or family member; and Anxiety about Time Constraints can be managed by writing down a daily or weekly schedule, learning how to say “No”, and organizing. The SingleParents.org (n. pag.) offers similar stress coping techniques for single mothers including spending time to be alone for reflection, getting support from others (friends or families), socializing, and adopting calming techniques like yoga, meditation, breathing techniques, or simply taking a nap. In addition to coping with stress, Denehy (n. pag.) suggested that single parents can turn to health care professionals for help in matters of locating resources, both internal and external, both private and professional, in dealing with their problems. With the help of health care professionals, single parents will be guided in examining their diet, energy, and exercise patterns, and they will learn about health and childcare services. A slow and steady progress can be realized by single parents though taking small, realistic lifestyle changes day by day (Denehy n. pag.). In addition to managing stress for single parents, Broadwell (1-10) shared 10 ways to reduce stress that include: (1) getting a handle on finances through budgeting, investing in long-term investments, plan for college and retirement, and enhancing earning power, (2) setting up a support system from friends and family members and hire a trusted sitter to look after the child and do household chores if there is sufficient finances, (3) maintaining a daily routine by scheduling and organizing activities, (4) being consistent with discipline by establishing rules consistently, (5) answering questions honestly in an open, sincere, and age-appropriate way, (6) treating the child as a child and avoid developing emotional dependency to the child because children are not yet capable to handle matured undertakings in life, (7) avoiding feeling guilty by focusing on daily accomplishments , (8) taking time for the children by playing with them, reading, or going out for a walk, (9) taking time for own self for personal refueling, and (10) staying positive, thinking and striving for good deals in life. Since the core stressor among single mothers is the income inadequacy that places them at high risks for anxiety, depression, and other health problems, the lack of essential resources and support can also lead to negative parenting behaviors which too often result in adverse outcomes for their children (Besser n. pag.). There are various government programs to support single mothers in terms providing assistance and aids to their basic needs. The U.S. government program called WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) offered by the Department of Children and Families is designed for single women or qualified parents with children five years and under that provides assistance through giving out vouchers for qualified parents every month which they can use to claim food support (such as milk, cereals, cheese, juice, beans, peanut butter, and eggs) (Zhang n. pag.). Another program they have is the TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) which provides financial help (in monthly basis) for children and their parents and relatives living with them to pay for food, clothing, housing, utilities, furniture, transportation, telephone, laundry, household equipment, medical supplies not paid for by Medicaid, and other basic needs (Zhang; Texas Health and Human Services Commission n. pag.). Zhang added that food stamps are also provided in single mothers and for medical assistance there is Medicaid and various other healthy kids programs. For social support groups, where single mothers give and receive both emotional and practical support as well as exchange information, the SingleMothers.org currently listed 21 support groups throughout the nation such as US & Mom, The Single Parent Family, Moms Like Me, Single Parents Resource Center, and many others. In conclusion, the very nature of single mothers’ difficult role and responsibilities is a factor that makes them prone to experience more stress in life. However, in spite of the overwhelming and stressful life of single mothers, it is good to know that many studies and literatures proved that this challenging role is indeed manageable. Thus, prior to reaching the chronic stage of stress, proper stress management shall be adapted early on. With the many suggestions and advices of experts who spent years of studying effective stress management for single mothers, what is essential then among single mothers is to seek knowledge and information about stress management and acting upon these learning in their daily way of life. A single mother should identify her source of strength and develop emotional, physical, and spiritual strength in order to meet the more than ordinary demands and challenges of single-parenting. In such case where, after applying stress management techniques, a single mother still feels incapable to manage stress with a very low level of coping, seeking healthcare and professional help is a valuable recourse. Works Cited: Avison, William, Carol Aneshensel, Scott Schieman, and Blair Wheaton. Advances in the Conceptualization of the Stress Process. Eds. New York, United States of America: Springer Science +Business Media, LLC, 2010. Print. Besser, Kyle. “Single Mother Social Aspects Article”. Single Mother Resources, Single Mothers Social Aspects. Single Mother Resources, 2011. Web. 07 June 2011. . Broadwell, Laura. “10 Ways to Reduce Single-Parent Stress”. Parents. Meredith Corporation, 2011. Web. 08 June 2011. . Denehy, Janice. “Single Parents: Coping With Everything”. University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. University of Iowa Health Care, 19 Oct 2006. Web. 07 June 2011. . Engber, Andrea and Leah Klungness. The Complete Single Mother: Reassuring Answers to Your Most Challenging Concerns. 3rd ed. United States of America: Adams Media, an F+W Publications Company, 2006. 131-1445. Print. Grall, Timothy S. “Custodial Mothers and Fathers and Their Child Support: 2007”. About.com, Nov 2009. Web. 05 June 2011. . “How to Cope With Single Parent Stress”. SingleParents.org., 16 May 2011. Web. 06 June 2011 . Pearson, Catherine. “Single Moms May Face Health Problems, Study Says”. AOL Healthy Living. The HuffingtonPost.com, Inc., 06 Mar 2011. Web. 05 June 2011. . Scott, Elizabeth, M.S. “Common Causes of Stress for Mothers”. About.com, Stress Management. About.com, 08 Apr. 2009. Web. 04 June 2011. . “Support Groups”. SingleMothers.org. n.p. Web. 08 June 2011. . Smith, Melinda, Robert Segal, and Jeanne Segal. “Understanding Stress, Signs, Symptoms, Causes, and Effects”. HelpGuide.org. HelpGuide, May 2011. Web. 07 June 2011. . Stoppler, Melissa Conrad. “Stress”. MedicineNet.com. MedicineNet.com, Inc., n.d. 1-11. Web. 07 June 2011. . “Temporary Assistance for Needy Families”. Texas Health and Human services Commission. Health and Human Services Commission, n.d. Web. 08 June 2011. . Wolf, Jennifer. “Single Parent Statistics”. About.com, Single Parents. About.com, 2011. Web. 05 June 2011. . Zhang, Louis. “Government Assistance for Single Mothers – Grants, Housing, Living Expenses and Medical Care”. Ezine Articles. EzineArticles.com, 10 Aug 2008. Web. 08 June 2011. . Read More