Single mothers. Problems and solutions

This degree project reports on how single mothers talk about their own situation, with the focus on those problems and solutions that they use to meet. The reason for chosen subject was that previous researches and other information origins gave a contradictory picture of the single motherhood: certain meant that single motherhood is an expression for freedom, while others see it in terms of exposure and obstacles. Therefor I performed my own study that should answer three questions: which problems do single mothers face with in their situation, which solutions do they use and what help do they get from the social environment. To come up so close to mothers own interpretations as possible, I chose to investigate an internet discussion forum for the single mothers. Thus, the qualitative content analysis was selected as a research method for my study. Previous researches about single mothers and theories about coping strategies and locus of control, have been implemented in analyses of womens own interpretations that I got from the internet forum. Five main themes that women touch in the discussion platform and that coincide with the themes in previous researches are: economics, work, balance, social network and physical with psychical health. Problems that mothers mention are related to that themes and involve burnout, tiredness, attitude of society, time deficiency, financial troubles and difficulties with work. Result of analyses has shown that mothers own solutions are more than help they use to get from the social environment. This solutions are especially based on their own will-power, planning ability, organizational skills and self-devotion