C. Anne Broussard

Stressors and Coping Strategies Used by Single Mothers Living in Poverty

The voices of the poor are ignored in policy debates and in social work research, practice, and the development of interventions. This article reviews the literature on stress and coping for single mothers in the context of poverty and uses narrative interviews to capture the lived experiences of 12 women who raised their children alone. The results showed that these single mothers’ stress and coping experiences tend to reflect the findings of research except that the low-income women in the study relieved stress and empowered themselves through volunteer work with other low-income individuals. The implications for social work education and practice are discussed.

Research Regarding Low-Income Single Mothers' Mental and Physical Health: A Decade in Review

This article reviews a decade of research and confirms that low-income single mothers with children remain vulnerable to multiple chronic risk factors, including financial and food insecurity, poor health care access, job insecurity, poor access to quality child care, and poor quality housing in unsafe neighborhoods. As a consequence, their health and mental health suffers, increasing the risks they and their children must face on a daily basis. Solutions to problems faced by single mothers and their families are dependent upon the development of short- and long-term policies and programs that address and reduce these risks.

Assessing the Health Perspectives of Unique Populations of Adolescents: A Focus Group Study

Few articles report on youths perceptions about health-related issues and needs and even fewer have given voice to youth with disabilities, chronic health conditions, or youth in therapeutic foster care. The purpose of this study was to explore perceptions of health issues from the perspectives of youth placed in therapeutic foster care, youth with chronic medical conditions, and youth with disabilities. Twelve focus groups with 67 youth aged 13–20 were conducted in rural, suburban, and urban communities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Data analysis revealed both within unique group themes and themes that cut across unique groups. Youth in therapeutic foster care with chronic health conditions or with disabilities perceive themselves as being different from their peers. Participants in each group expressed concerns about the unique issues that they confront daily and how these challenges differentiate them from youth who do not share their life experiences. They expressed the desire for other youth to understand them better and to not treat them differently. Discussion and implications focus on the need to create programs to support the unique needs of these youth.