Being a solo mother without the involvement of a partner: an exploration of parenting experiences and support needs
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: An increasingly common family type, often referred to as ‘solo mothers’, ‘single mothers by choice’ or ‘choice mothers’, comprises women who intentionally become mothers without the involvement of a partner. Although solo mothers are often described as self-determined, motivated and well prepared for parenting, with both economic and social resources, little is known about their parenting experiences and emotional and practical support needs. This cross-sectional exploratory study used an online survey to examine sources of emotional and practical parenting support, ease of asking for help and parenting confidence. A total of 139 participants responded between July 2021 and February 2022. The most used sources of support were family networks and friendship groups of non-solo mothers. Paid childcare was also frequently used, with many solo mothers accessing it at least a few times per week. While most participants felt confident in their parenting, many occasionally struggled to ask for help and required additional practical, emotional and/or financial support. Positive correlations were found between feeling supported and parenting confidence (r = 0.405, p < 0.001) and between ease of asking for help and feeling supported (r = 0.458, p < 0.001). Greater efforts are needed to ensure solo mothers have equitable access to tailored emotional and practical support resources.
Source: Human Fertility
Authors: Penny Chamberlain, Vasanti Jadva, Suzanne Buckley
Language: English
Subfield: Demography
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7171236826