Selective re-partnering? Mental health and life satisfaction among separated single mothers in Germany and the UK.

This study examines the potential influence of selection on the association between re-partnering and single mothers' mental health and life satisfaction in Germany and the United Kingdom. Drawing on extensive longitudinal panel data, we analyze the trajectories of 1694 separated single mothers in Germany (SOEP) and 1070 in the UK (BHPS/UKHLS). Employing fixed effects models, we examine the outcomes before and after entry into single motherhood and compare trajectories of stably single mothers and re-partnered single mothers. In both countries, the findings weakly indicate that prior to entering single motherhood, re-partnered mothers exhibit higher levels of life satisfaction, suggesting positive selection. Increasing differences in life satisfaction after the transition into single motherhood between mothers that re-partner and stably single mothers indicate a positive association of re-partnering and life satisfaction. No evidence of mental health selection into re-partnering was found in either country, but the trajectory of re-partnered mothers in Germany shows a stronger increase than that of mothers who remain single.