Aims:

The primary aim of the present study was to explore the prevalence of psychological distress among single fathers and single mothers in comparison to parents living together, and the factors contributing to the differences between single and partnered parents. A secondary aim was to investigate the perceived need for parental support in relation to severe psychological distress in these groups.

Methods:

A survey questionnaire was sent to a random population sample in Sweden in 2022 and 5750 parents aged 18–69 years participated. The outcome was severe psychological distress, measured by the Kessler-6 (scores ⩾13). Associations between single parenthood and severe psychological distress were analysed with multiple logistic regression, adjusting for age group, economic difficulties, social support, risk consumption of alcohol and need for parental support.

Results:

Severe psychological distress was more common among single fathers (age-adjusted odds ratio (OR): 2.2; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.4–3.5) and mothers (age-adjusted OR: 2.4; 95% CI: 1.8–3.3) than among partnered fathers and mothers. The main explanatory factors for the difference were economic difficulties and lack of social support, accounting together for 75% of the excess of severe psychological distress in single fathers and 64% in single mothers. Risk consumption of alcohol among both single and partnered fathers was also associated with severe psychological distress. Being in need of more parental support, for example, from maternity/child health care or family centres was associated with severe psychological distress among all parents, regardless of partnership status and gender.

Conclusions:

Single parents had a higher prevalence of severe psychological distress than partnered parents, mainly explained by economic difficulties and the lack of social support. Both among single and partnered parents, the need for more parental support was associated with severe psychological distress.