Sole-support parents who had applied for social assistance in 2 regions of southwestern Ontario were included in the study. Depression was diagnosed with the 1994 University of Michigan Composite International Diagnostic Interview short forms. Those with major depressive disorder, particularly double depression, had significantly higher rates of coexisting psychiatric disorder than those without depressive disorders. Parents with depression reported higher rates of developmental delay and behaviour problems in their children than parents without depression. Expenditures for health care services were higher for parents with depression and for their children than for parents without depressive disorder and their children.
Single parents receiving social assistance have high rates of depression.
Such parents with depression also have higher rates of other psychiatric disorders and higher expenditures for health care services, and their children have higher rates of developmental delay and behaviour problems. M me si l'on admet g n ralement que la pauvret et la d pression peuvent coexister chez les parents seuls qui touchent des prestations d'aide sociale, les tudes sont insuffisantes ce sujet. Composite International Diagnostic Interview de 1994 de l'Universit du Michigan.