A CSO Frontier Series Output- What is this?
Respondents to the ‘Life at Home’ CSO Pulse Survey who live in a dwelling with at least one child aged under 18 and who do not have a spouse/partner or either of their parents living with them are categorised in this publication as a ‘Lone parent’.
Lone parent respondents were asked a series of questions about their experiences as a lone parent. Overall three in four (74%) lone parents said they have someone to count on if they have a serious personal problem. The comparable rate for persons living on their own is 83%. More than four in ten (41%) said they feel lonely all or most of the time. This rate is much higher than the rate reported by those who live alone (17%). Almost one in two (48%) said they often experience judgemental attitudes or exclusion as a lone parent. The same percentage of lone parents (48%) said they have someone to help them provide emotional support for their child(ren). A lesser percentage (40%) said they have someone to help them provide structure and discipline for their child(ren). Almost seven in ten (68%) lone parents said they are often under financial pressure. The comparable rate for respondents living alone is three in ten (30%). See Tables 2.1, 3.1.and Figure 3.1
| X-axis label | Lone parent |
|---|---|
| Can get practical help if needed | 71 |
| Feels lonely all or most of the time | 41 |
| Someone to count on if they have a serious personal problem | 74 |
| Has access to suitable childcare | 53 |
| Often experiences judgemental attitudes/exclusion | 48 |
| Often under financial pressure | 68 |
| Someone to help provide structure/discipline for children | 40 |
| Someone to help provide emotional support for child(ren) | 48 |
| Someone to help provide educational support for child(ren) | 37 |
Respondents who are lone parents- Analysis by age
Almost nine in ten (88%) lone parents under the age of 40 said they have someone they can count on if they have a serious personal problem compared with seven in ten (70%) lone parents aged 40 and over. Lone parents aged less than 40 were more likely to say they are under financial pressure (75% compared with 66% of older lone parents), that they often experience judgemental attitudes or exclusion as a lone parent (66% compared with 42% of those 40 years or older) and that they feel lonely all or most of the time (59% compared with 35%). Younger lone parents (aged less than 40) were less likely to report that they can get practical help if needed (65% compared with 73% of those 40 years or older). See Table 3.1.and Figure 3.2
| X-axis label | Under 40 | 40 and over |
|---|---|---|
| Often under financial pressure | 75 | 66 |
| Often experiences judgemental attitudes/exclusion | 66 | 42 |
| Someone to count on if they have a serious personal problem | 88 | 70 |
| Feels lonely all or most of the time | 59 | 35 |
| Can get practical help if needed | 65 | 73 |
Respondents who are lone parents- Analysis by labour market activity
Respondents to the ‘Life at Home’ CSO Pulse Survey were asked ‘Which of the following categories best describes your current situation?’ The response options to this question were (1) Full-time employed, (2) Part-time employed, (3) Unemployed or on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), (4) Retired, (5) Unable to work due to longstanding health problems, (6) Student, (7) Fulfilling domestic tasks and (8) Other.
Almost one in two (48%) lone parent respondents who are not in full-time employment reported feeling lonely all or most of the time compared with one in three (33%) who are in full-time employment. Lone parent respondents who are not in full-time employment were also more likely to say that they often experience judgemental attitudes or exclusion as a lone parent (56% compared with 38% for those in full-time employment) and to often feel under financial pressure (79% compared with 55%).
Lone parent respondents who are not in full-time employment were less likely to report that they can get practical help if needed (63% compared with 80% of lone parents in full-time employment), have someone they can count on if they have a serious personal problem (68% compared with 81%) and have access to suitable childcare (43% compared with 64% of those in full-time employment). See Table 3.1.and Figure 3.3
| X-axis label | Not in full-time employment | Full-time employment |
|---|---|---|
| Can get practical help if needed | 63 | 80 |
| Feels lonely all or most of the time | 48 | 33 |
| Someone to count on if they have a serious personal problem | 68 | 81 |
| Has access to suitable childcare | 43 | 64 |
| Often experiences judgemental attitudes/exclusion | 56 | 38 |
| Often under financial pressure | 79 | 55 |
Respondents who are lone parents- Analysis by tenure status
Almost six in ten (58%) lone parents living in rented accommodation reported that they often experience judgemental attitudes or exclusion as a lone parent compared with more than two in ten (23%) lone parents who own their own dwelling mortgage free. Eight in ten (80%) who live in rented accommodation often feel under financial pressure, compared with more than six in ten (64%) who own their dwelling with a mortgage and four in ten (39%) who own their dwelling outright.
Lone parents living in rented accommodation were less likely to report that they have access to suitable childcare and that they are less likely to get practical help when needed when compared to lone parent respondents living in owner occupied accommodation. See Table 3.1.and Figure 3.4
| X-axis label | Owned Outright | Owned with a Mortgage | Rented |
|---|---|---|---|
| Often under financial pressure | 39 | 64 | 80 |
| Often experiences judgemental attitudes/exclusion | 23 | 44 | 58 |
| Has access to suitable childcare | 55 | 65 | 43 |
| Feels lonely all or most of the time | 29 | 33 | 50 |
| Can get practical help if needed | 92 | 82 | 56 |
Go to next chapter >>> Respondents in Shared Rented Accommodation
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