Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Mental health among single mothers in Cyprus: a cross -sectional descriptive correlational 
study  
 
Version: 1 Date: 20 Jan 2019  
 
Revi ewer: Bonnie Janzen  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
I do not believe the manuscript contributes to the literature. We already know that on average, 
single mothers have poorer mental health (however measured) and that lower social support and 
financial problems play an important role. The lack of a control group in this study (ie., partnered 
mothers) also limits its usefulness.  
The writing was generally fine but the manuscript needs careful proofreading for typos (also 
inconsistent use of comma/decimal when reporting results in tables and text). Also, avoid use of 
terms such as "unsurprisingly", "str iking", "interestingly", etc.  
There is inappropriate referencing at times. For example line 80, two references (8,9) are 
provided which do not actually support the authors' statement.  
The interpretation of some studies is also off. For example, the aut hors' statement on lines 381 -
383 was that "studies have reported that higher educated single mothers report significantly 
higher stress due to balancing job and family demands…."If you actually go the paper, the 
results show that single mothers have more o f this type of stress than partnered mothers, as do 
more educated women compared to less educated women. The study did not specifically assess 
the stress of highly educated single mother compared to less educated single mothers.  In 
addition, I believe the  authors misinterpreted the results of a study (#56) on lines 394 -396. If you 
actually read the study, the results are much more nuanced than the authors present.  
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comm ents to the authors.  
 
No 
 
  
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical r eview?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Needs some language corrections before being published  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares  in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you recei ved reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare I have no competing interests  
 
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on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report  
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I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal