Att bära allt själv : En scoping review litteraturstudie om social utsatthet bland ensamstående mödrar

Sammanfattning

Introduction: Single mothers make up an important part of the family landscape in Sweden and Europe. Previous research and official reports show that this group often faces more vulnerable economic, social, and structural conditions than other family forms. Social vulnerability among single mothers cannot be explained only by economic hardship. Instead, it should be understood as the result of several interacting factors, such as material living conditions, caregiving responsibilities, access to social support, housing, health, and societal norms. Aim: The aim of this study is to analyse how social vulnerability among single mothers is described in research from an intersectional perspective. Method: This study is a scoping review based on 19 peer-reviewed articles and one grey literature source, published between 2012 and 2026. The material was analysed using thematic analysis. Results: The findings show that social vulnerability among single mothers is multidimensional. Three main themes were identified: material conditions of everyday life, relational conditions, and structural and normative conditions. Economic strain, lack of time, limited social support, housing insecurity, sole caregiving responsibility, and strong norms about motherhood interact and shape the mothers’ everyday lives. Conclusion: Social vulnerability among single mothers cannot be understood as the result of individual factors or economic conditions alone. It is shaped through the interaction of gender, class, family structure, caregiving responsibilities, and the design of welfare systems. The results highlight the need for holistic, context-sensitive, and intersectionally informed approaches in social work, including assessment, support, and preventive interventions aimed at single mothers.