Exploring Single Parenting Process in Malaysia: Issues and Coping Strategies

AbstractParents play a significant role in shaping the emotional and personality development of their children. However, single parents encounter double major roles, i.e. the parenting role and the role of a sole breadwinner for their family. This double role, leads a single working mother into having social and psychological problems. Previous studies reported occurrences of depression and emotional distress among children of single parents, high risks of school drop-outs, substance abuse, premarital sex and teenage pregnancies as well as neglected children. Single parents were found physically, mentally and emotionally unprepared which lead to a collapse of the family structure. Hence, through series of interviews, we explored and validated the coping strategies adopted by a sample of single Malay working widows and divorcees. The result of this study as well as previous studies indicated the importance of social support system in helping the single Malay working women effectively