Does Lone Motherhood Decrease Women's Subjective Well-Being ? Evidence from Qualitative and Quantitavie Research

• Autorzy: Anna Baranowska-Rataj , Anna Matysiak , Monika Mynarska
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

This paper contributes to the discussion on the effects of single motherhood on happiness. We use a mixed-method approach. First, based on in-depth interviews with mothers who gave birth while single, we explore mechanisms through which children may influence mothers' subjective well-being. In a second step, we analyze panel survey data to quantify this influence. Our results leave no doubt that, while raising a child outside of marriage poses many challenges, parenthood has some positive influence on a lone mother's life. Our qualitative evidence shows that children are a central point in an unmarried woman's life, and that many life decisions are taken with consideration of the child's welfare, including escaping from pathological relationships. Our quantitative evidence shows that, although the general level of happiness among unmarried women is lower than among their married counterparts, raising a child does not have a negative impact on their subjective well-being. (original abstract)

Słowa kluczowe

EN

Children; Single parent family; Prosperity; Dynamic test methods; Well-being

PL

Dzieci; Rodzina niepełna; Dobrobyt; Dynamiczne metody badań; Dobrostan

• Czasopismo: ISiD Working Papers
• Rocznik: 2012
• Numer: nr 21
• Strony: 36

Twórcy

autor

Anna Baranowska-Rataj

• Warsaw School of Economics, Poland

autor

Anna Matysiak

• Warsaw School of Economics, Poland

autor

Monika Mynarska

• Uniwersytet Kardynała Stefana Wyszyńskiego w Warszawie

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