The life expectancy of the English population has increased but health inequalities have increased at the same time (Marmot Review, 2010). Lone mothers with dependent children suffering from depression have been the subject of publications (Bebbington et al., 2003; Atkins, 2010). Yet, other determinants of health in connection with lifestyle such as smoking, alcohol and drug consumption, tiredness, sleeping disorder, obesity, nutrition, diet, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, cancer, mortality, the lack of leisure and outdoor activities have seldom been mentioned, are not well-documented or passed over in silence. Still, the health of lone mothers with dependent children, whether they have experienced a divorce or a separation or are widows is frailer than the health of women who are married or living as a couple (Beatson-Hird et al., 1989). In 2011 in the UK, there were two million (1.96m) one-parent families. The country has 18 million families (17.9m) with dependent children (ONS, 2012). Almost 92% of single-parent families are headed by mothers and the rates have marginally changed since 2001. The conference will aim at uncovering these phenomena and exploring them in the light of quantitative and qualitative studies for instance.

Argument

The life expectancy of the English population has increased but health inequalities have increased at the same time (Marmot Review, 2010). Lone mothers with dependent children suffering from depression have been the subject of publications (Bebbington et al., 2003; Atkins, 2010). Yet, other determinants of health in connection with lifestyle such as smoking, alcohol and drug consumption, tiredness, sleeping disorder, obesity, nutrition, diet, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, cancer, mortality, the lack of leisure and outdoor activities have seldom been mentioned, are not well-documented or passed over in silence. Still, the health of lone mothers with dependent children, whether they have experienced a divorce or a separation or are widows is frailer than the health of women who are married or living as a couple (Beatson-Hird et al., 1989). In 2011 in the UK, there were two million (1.96m) one-parent families. The country has 18 million families (17.9m) with dependent children (ONS, 2012). Almost 92% of single-parent families are headed by mothers and the rates have marginally changed since 2001. 

The conference will aim at uncovering these phenomena and exploring them in the light of quantitative and qualitative studies for instance. Exploring the realities of the daily lives of these parents, health social and geographical inequalities, understanding their mechanisms and considering the health stakes on the future generations while bearing in mind that the responsibilities of public health has been transferred from the National Health Service (NHS) to the local authorities under the proposals of the coalition government are other issues to be discussed.

Submission guidelines

Please send 500 word proposals along with a short career summary including publications to Fabienne Portier-Le Cocq at fabienne.portier@univ-paris13.fr

 by 1st September 2013.

One-day conference organised by Monde Anglophone : Politique et Société (MAPS Research Group), Université Paris-Sorbonne, France, 24 January 2014.

Scientific convenors

• Fabienne Portier-Le Cocq, MCF, université Paris 13, Docteur en civilisation britannique
• Dr Nadia Mantovani, Research Fellow at St. George’s University of London, Section of Mental Health, Division of Population Health Sciences