| Summary: | Single parenthood has become increasingly prevalent in many countries, with a 19% increase in the number of single parent families in the UK between 1996 and 2016. Single mothers are still much more common than single fathers, but in some places there has been a significant increase in the numbers of single fathers. In the USA, for example, 8% of households with children were headed up by a single father in 2011 compared to only 1% in 1960.2 Taking on a role as single carer for children could put a strain on the health of a single parent, and studies focusing on single mothers have found a greater risk of mortality in this group compared to partnered mothers. However, until now, only one study has compared mortality risks between single and partnered fathers.
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