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Loss and Depression in Cohabiting and Noncohabiting Custodial Single Parents

University of Nevada, Reno, hilton{at}unr.edu

Karen Kopera-Frye

University of Nevada, Reno

Differences in depression and factors that contribute to depression were examined using a sample of 627 divorced mothers and 101 divorced fathers who participated in the National Survey of Families and Households. Findings indicated that custodial mothers had less contact with friends and were more depressed than custodial fathers, regardless of cohabiting status, and noncohabiting mothers had significantly less income than noncohabiting fathers. No group differences were found for income change, role satisfaction, or personal mastery. Regression analysis revealed that household income, income change, household size, contact with friends, personal mastery, and role satisfaction significantly accounted for 42% of the variance in explaining depression. The findings suggest that custodial mothers and fathers are more alike than different in the ways that they experience depression and that role satisfaction and personal mastery are important buffers against depression for both mothers and fathers.

Key Words: depression • child custody • single parents • National Survey of Families and Households

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