Changes in Roles Following Divorce

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine factors associated with depression in custodial single mothers and custodial single fathers. Single mothers and single fathers have different constraints placed on them, and their roles change in different ways following divorce, so it was expected that they might experience depression differently depending on their circumstances. Data for the study were collected from 626 single mothers and 100 single fathers who participated in the National Survey of Families and Households. A one-way analysis of variance determined that single mothers were significantly more depressed than single fathers. Regression analyses were then used to predict depression in single mothers and single fathers using changes in income, role set, role satisfaction, role captivity, and locus of control as independent variables. Role satisfaction and locus of control predicted depression in both single mothers and single fathers.

Key Words:

• Custodial single mother
• custodial single father
• role set
• role satisfaction
• role captivity
• locus of control