Multi-dimensional Subjective Wellbeing and Lone Parenthood following Divource in Flanders (Northern Belgium)

Abstract This study contributes to the literature on the relationship between subjective

wellbeing (SWB), divorce, gender, and lone parenthood. We use the cross

sectional Divorce in Flanders Survey (2009), comparing divorced, single parents to

married parents, and also to each other across genders. Our results confirm the

lower levels of SWB reported by divorced, single parents. This is true across multiple

dimensions of SWB, including measures of life satisfaction, emotional wellbeing

and vitality. Our results highlight the lower wellbeing reported by divorced,

single parents in relation to the residential status of children below the age of 18.

This is the case for both mothers and fathers, but fathers with non-residential children

below 18 reported lower life satisfaction, whereas for the equivalent mothers,

emotional wellbeing was diminished. We find little evidence of gender differences

between lone mothers and fathers who report residential children. This suggests that

the “intensive motherhood” hypothesis, which predicts that parenting may affect the

SWB of mothers more negatively than fathers, may operate differently in the case

of single vs. married parents.