Lone mothers and their network support: Sociodemographic research of nonmarital parenthood in Serbia
Authors: Stankovic Biljana 
Published: January 2015

The aim of this paper is to identify and describe the difficulties faced by
families with nonmarital children (especially single-parent), available help
and support, participation of the father in raising a child, and expected
institutional help. That represents a first step toward better understanding
of these families. The paper presents part of the results of research carried
out in Belgrade with the aim of insight into the phenomenon of nonmarital
childbearing at the individual level. It was conducted on a sample of 100
respondents, mothers of nonmarital children, who attend preschool. The survey
was anonymous, carried out by the interview method. For this purpose a
questionnaire with more than 50 questions was made, standardized to a great
extent. In this paper, the focus is on the hardships and needs of the group
of lone mothers. Though some issues take into account the answers of all
respondents (21 cohabited mothers and 79 lone mothers), the analysis is
largely related to the experiences and reflections of lone mothers. The 2011
Census data on prevalence of consensual unions and characteristics of persons
living in them, as well as earlier data on the acknowledgment of paternity,
do not indicate that nonmarital childbearing in Serbia takes place primarily
in stable unions. It is realistic to assume that a large percentage of
mothers with nonmarital children are lone mothers. The research results are
generally consistent with the findings of relevant studies from our and
foreign countries. As the largest difficulties, lone mothers emphasize
financial problems, unemployment, housing difficulties, and child care, as
well as a pronounced feeling of loneliness. Most of them in solving problems
and rising children rely on their parents and siblings, with whom they often
live in the same household. Every fifth lone mother when faced with a major
problem, and every ninth in everyday raising a child can count on the father
of the child. About a third of the children have no contact with their
father, and as many fathers do not make any financial contribution. Actually,
insufficient presence and participation of the father, in the lives of
children and in daily performing parental responsibilities of their mothers,
is one of the most important aspects that deserve the attention of
researchers and policy-makers when it comes to lone mothers with unmarital
children. The realization of children's rights in relation to financing and
visitation the fathers after parental separation, is far more difficult than
in divorced or widowed single-parent families. Some considerations about
measures of state and local community support can be based on the selected
research results presented in this paper. Support measures are possible in
multiple domains, social policy (financial support and assistance in
employment), institutions of preschool education, as well as in health,
education, pre-school and social system counseling services. Greater
involvement of men in family life and parenthood stands out as a very
important objective, as well as motivation of fathers to involve in raising
their nonresident children, including financial support. Three-quarters of
the total number of respondents expect the state support to lone unmarried
mothers. Three-quarters of lone mothers and one third of cohabited mothers
expressed the need for state assistance in solving their own most important
existential issues.