Single Mothers and Physical Activities

This essay discusses the reasons why single mothers do not engage in physical activities in Australia and the role of social capital in increasing their participation. It explores the impact of work pressure, financial constraints, and lack of social support on single mothers' ability to participate in physical activities. The essay also highlights the importance of providing flexible work schedules and creating awareness programs to support single mothers in managing their time and engaging in physical activities.

Running Head: Single Mothers and Physical Activities
Single Mothers and Physical Activities
Essay
System04104
4/21/2019

Single Mothers and Physical Activities
1
Part-I
(Why single mothers do not engage in physical activities in Australia?)
Parents play an important role in shaping the future of children. However, when they
separated with each other it directly affects the physical and mental health of children. There
are too many individual opinions about single mothers in Australia and they all think that the
role of a single mother in the development of children is a tough job. However, it has been
found that a large number of single mothers who involve in caring for her children and daily
routine works, do not spend much time in physical activities. A single mum is a woman or
mother who separated (on a temporary or permanent basis, because some people live away
from their family because of their job) from her husband. No matter how many or often she
gave birth or how many children she has. It has been seen that mothers spend almost their
100% time with their children; so they do not have time for their-self as well (Australian
Government, 2008). Therefore, it can be considered that how she can fit herself in physical
activities, continuing her jobs, or even her education. After being spending the whole day
with children, a single mum probably more tired but there are some other factors that can be
considered that why single mother do not engage in physical activities. The present essay will
discuss the role of a single mother and their disengagement in physical activities. In the
second part of the essay, the role of social capital has been discussed that how different group
of social capital can help the single mother to increase their participation in physical activities
in regards to unemployment, education, and gender (Kyle & Dunn, 2008).
A single mother is the result of various different events such as divorce from husband,
separation of cohabitating parents, to death of a partner, an adult child decide to move back
into the single parent’s house or birth of a child by single unmarried women. The transition to
motherhood is consistently associated with a decline in physical activity of single mothers
(Uphoff, Pickett, Cabieses, Small, & Wright, 2013). It has been seen that because of the busy
schedule and lots of work burden the single mother cannot spend time for herself. She cannot
join a job or continuing her education because she does not have time to spend on these
activities. Although the major concern of a single mother family is that, they are facing too
many financial problems because the mother cannot work outside (Damaske, Bratter, &
Frech, 2017). It has been observed that single-mother families have higher poverty rates than
other family and they experience greater economic insecurity. In the United States, it has

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been observed those single mothers are less well off in a relative sense than single mothers in
other countries. The overreliance of the USA on income-tested programs is a major cause
behind this discrimination with single women. In the USA, single parents are facing too many
problems in regards to employment and education. Although these changes can be seen all
across the western country and it has been also spread in Asian countries as well. It has been
seen in the western countries that the percentage of children born outside marriage has been
tremendously increased over several decreases. In the United States, the status of a single
mother is too poor as they are not joining jobs and they should have to care about the children
(Letizia, Pasqua, & Agnese, 2017).
(Source: Lovasi, Hutson, Guerra, & Neckerman, 2009)
If we compare the Australian single mother with the USA, then we found that almost 20% or
about 1 child out of five is living with a single mother (World Health Organisation, 2011).
The busy schedule and poor financial condition of single mothers do not allow them to
participate in physical activities or doing even exercise. It has been seen that single mother is
not able to participate in jobs or even they cannot join any education centre that provides
them some knowledge about the physical activities (Marmot & Wilkinson, 2003). If we talk
about the single mom status in Asian countries like China and India, the single mother spends
the whole time behind their children. If we compare the situation of these countries and their
role as a single mother, then it can be said that Asian single mothers are more emotionally

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attached with their children and they do not spend too much time in physical activities. Indian
and Chinese single mothers are also facing too much social pressure and financial problems
in compare to USA and Australia. In USA and Australia, where people are more westernise
and living an advanced lifestyle in compare to Asian countries (Marmot & Wilkinson, 2003).
The financial conditions of a single mother is totally depends on their joint family members
rather than single mother, because in the Indian and Chinese context, the women are not
allowed to work outside, especially in rural areas where literacy is minimum.
Physical activity and social connectedness play are interlinked with each other if we
consider the role of a single mother and their involvement in physical activities. It has been
seen that single mother in society perceived less social support and they have a very fewer
connection with friends and family. The single mother has a very low level of involvement in
social engagement than parents in "coupled family.” According to various researches on
single mothers, it has been found that the number of perceived barriers to physical activity
decreases over time in western countries like England, Switzerland, etc., while it is increasing
in Asian countries (Stafford & McCarthy, 2006). It is considered that the role of mother in
families is so important, as they take care of children and other members of the family as
well, but her lack of time due to work pressure and responsibilities in the family do not allow
them to participate in any physical activity or leisure pursuits. Looking more into this matter,
one can easily found that in the matter of single mother versus single fathers, the barriers are
similar. A single mother is the only person who earns for the family and fulfils all the demand
of her children and spending much of the time with children just like a couple-parents or
common parents. The role of a single mother as an employer of the family and bring some
income for the family after doing jobs, almost make fully tired to a single mother and after
these all things, it is impossible for a woman to find out time for physical activities in daily
life. The other major concern for single mothers is that low-income jobs. In Asian, European,
and Middle East countries, the wages of women are not sufficient or even not equal to men
workers. Therefore, it has been seen that a single mother faces gender discrimination even in
the workplace about their salary and wages. These problems are directly linked with the
income and financial conditions of the single mother family. However, the role of society is
important to improve the conditions of a single mother and if society raises the voice for
these great mothers, then they can definitely caring their family inappropriate manner and
take care of their health by spending time in physical activities like sports and social

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engagement programs. The role of social capital in reforming the situation of a single mother
has been discussed in part-II.
PART-II
How Social Capital Can Help Single Mothers in Increasing their
Physical Activities?
Social capital can play a major role in the life of Single mothers. Social capital is a
key concept of social sciences. Social capital refers to one's access to resources through
reciprocal social networks. Social capital can provide two types of help to an individual;
social support and social advantage. The role of social capital as a facilitator for single
mothers is considered very important because the phenomenon of a single mother is our
society is more common and it is increasing every day. It has been seen that low-income
single mother bearing a high level of work pressure and family pressure, while a higher level
of income helps to reduce the work pressure of a single mother. Single women are mostly
unable to find time for the physical activities and in their leisure times, they work for earning
money and fulfil the responsibility of the family (Wakefield, Yeudall, Taron, Reynolds, &
Skinner, 2007). Therefore, if society provides flexible work-schedule to single women, then
they can maintain a better balance between their multiple roles in the family. This flexibility
can be in both terms; formal and informal. The formal flexibility allows them to work in their
free time and the informal flexibility provides job security to single women, where they
would not fear losing their jobs for being a few minutes late. It means a minor arrangement in
the work schedule might be beneficial for lower-income women, and it can also be helpful to
support them in childcare. It is also considered that social support cannot affect employment
status. For example, Afghanistan where war and conflict have left many single women
without a husband, but the society of Afghan provide education facilities to these single
mothers and help them to take admission in schools and getting jobs for improving their
social lives. Almost 85 per cent of women in the country are illiterate and unemployed but
many of them now focusing on to improve their life after taking education in schools
(Golombok, Zadeh, Imrie, Smith, & Freeman, 2016). This is a good example of the
importance of social capital that how it can help single mothers in society and assist them to
live life with a small earning.

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It has been also seen that single mothers are facing work-family conflict while making
stability in professional life and personal life (Sweet, 2012). A low-income single mother
faces a high level of conflict in childcare during the jib time or in their working hours.
Because of this issue, many single mothers left the job or not interested to work in any
organisation where flexible working schedule facilities are not available for women
(Macintyre, Ellaway, & Cummins, 2002). Therefore, more women who report difficulty in
dealing with childcare during working hours are more likely unemployed. Apart from this,
the society can support these mothers by providing them part-time work rather than full-time
work so they can care for their children and work in their free and leisure time. The single
mother can only engage in physical activities if they can have more leisure time and less
work responsibilities.
In we consider gender then it can be said that the situation of both a single mother and
single father almost similar. Both face the same type of problems but the single father cannot
bear a full dedication in the childcare, while a single mother is committed toward the
childcare. If we analyse the unemployment and poor economic condition, then we found that
a single mother faces huge problems and bear a huge responsibility towards the family
(Nieminen, Prättälä, Martelin, Härkänen, Hyyppä, Alanen, & Koskinen, 2013). In a general
statement, it can be said that both single-parent mother and father have many responsibilities
for their families in comparison to dual parent families. Therefore, it is important for our
society to provide various part-time work facilities to single women and organise different
programs for creating opportunities for single mother family to engage them in physical
activities. The society can also conduct various awareness programs and education centre that
provide proper knowledge to these single mothers that how they can manage their timings,
thus they can spend more time in physical activities and can manage the childcare as well.
The social capital helps these mothers in establishing a social connection with other people in
society and helps them to participate in social engagement programs.

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References
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