By Rachel Schatzberg, M.S., Ph.D. Candidate, Therapist
As a single mother of a child who is turning 18 this year, I’ve been reflecting on what the past years have required, both logistically and emotionally. Single parents are often described as strong or resilient. While well-intended, those words rarely capture the whole experience. Loving your child deeply and struggling with your mental health are not opposing realities. Research shows that single parents experience higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression than parents in two-parent households. This difference is not about effort, motivation, or parenting ability. It reflects the reality of carrying full responsibility over long periods of time.
Being the only adult in a household means there is no shared mental load. Every decision, both large and small, rests on one person. From finances and housing to school decisions, emotional support, and long-term planning, there is no backup decision-maker. Over time, this constant responsibility creates ongoing stress, even during periods when life appears stable from the outside. Many single parents remain focused on functioning and meeting their child’s needs, often setting their own emotional needs aside.
Support plays a significant role in mental health outcomes for single parents. Research shows that single parents who feel supported by friends, family, or community experience better mental well-being than those who feel isolated. Yet many single parents describe a gap between being praised for being “strong” and receiving actual, consistent help. Strength can unintentionally become a label that discourages others from stepping in. When support is limited or unreliable, feelings of loneliness and overwhelm increase. Support is not a luxury or a bonus. It is a protective factor.
Financial stress is another key contributor. Research consistently shows that income strain, housing concerns, and limited access to childcare and other resources explain much of the mental health burden experienced by single parents. Financial pressure rarely appears as a single crisis. Instead, it becomes part of daily life, shaping decisions, limiting rest, and creating constant uncertainty. Over time, this pressure affects mood, sleep, and emotional availability. Many single parents manage these demands quietly, but the impact accumulates.
As my daughter approaches adulthood, I’m beginning to see my own experience with more clarity. For many years, the focus was on meeting her needs, staying functional, and keeping life moving forward. There was little space to reflect on what that required emotionally. Reading the research helped me understand that struggling did not mean I was failing. It meant I was responding in a predictable way to a demanding role with limited support. That understanding brought relief, not because it erased the difficulty, but because it replaced self-judgment with compassion.
Mental health challenges among single parents are common and well documented. They are not personal shortcomings or signs of weakness. They reflect the reality of a role that requires constant responsibility, adaptability, and emotional presence. Many single parents carry this responsibility for years without acknowledgment of the toll it can take. If you are a single parent who recognizes yourself in these experiences, you are not broken. You adapted to circumstances that required a great deal of you. You showed up consistently, often without support, and that matters.
As conversations about mental health continue to grow, single parents must be included honestly and without judgment. Meaningful support, access to resources, and realistic expectations make a difference. If you are a single parent reading this, it is worth pausing to recognize what you have carried. This role deserves recognition, even if that recognition comes from yourself.
References
- Cairney, J., Boyle, M., Offord, D. R., & Racine, Y. (2003). Stress, social support, and depression in single and married mothers. Journal of Family Psychology, 17(3), 442–449. https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-3200.17.3.442
- Cooper, C. E., McLanahan, S. S., Meadows, S. O., & Brooks-Gunn, J. (2009). Family structure transitions and maternal parenting stress. Journal of Marriage and Family, 71(3), 558–574. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2009.00619.x
- Harknett, K. (2006). The relationship between private safety nets and economic outcomes among single mothers. Journal of Marriage and Family, 68(1), 172–191. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2006.00241.x
- McLanahan, S., & Percheski, C. (2008). Family structure and the reproduction of inequalities. Annual Review of Sociology, 34, 257–276. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.soc.34.040507.134549
- Taylor, Z. E., Conger, R. D., Robins, R. W., & Widaman, K. F. (2015). Parenting practices and perceived social support: Longitudinal relations with the mental health of single mothers. Journal of Family Psychology, 29(5), 699–709. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000100
- Wang, J. L. (2004). The difference between single and married mothers in the 12-month prevalence of major depressive syndrome, associated factors, and mental health service utilization. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 39(1), 26–32. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-004-0699-7
