Maternal well-being, stressors, and the use of support services in single-parent families, stepfamilies, and nuclear families: Results from the representative cross-sectional study AID:A 2023

Overall, differences in maternal well-being across family forms appear to be largely explained by material and psychosocial stressors, with financial deprivation emerging as the key factor rather than family structure itself. The findings suggest a higher need for support among mothers in single-parent families than in nuclear families. However, universal group-based services do not appear to address this need adequately. In contrast, selective counselling services, such as parenting counselling, are used more often by mothers in single-parent families and stepfamilies. Counselling might also address financial strain and couple distress as well as worries about the future.