Psychopathology and economic status in mother-only and mother-father families.

This paper reports evidence on the link between economic resources and psychiatric disorder in female-headed families with children. It has been assumed that a father's absence leads to augmented psychopathology in children and their mother through the disruption of roles, relationships, socialization and development. This study suggests that the absence of father/husband compounds the stress of family separation by diminishing household income, often to the point of poverty.