Question

What is the primary source of strain in the typical one-parent family?

Answer 1

The primary "strain" is the parent needing to do ALL "parenting" tasks - including income generation - alone.

Explanation:

The strain of being a single parent is not that there is a particular strain, but that the usual strains of family life cannot be SHARED with a spouse. All responsibility for the total welfare and upbringing of the children rests on a single individual.

The strains are not different. They are simply unable to be shared. Thus, the strains have no relief, let-up or alternation. This can also impact the relationship of the children with the parent, compared to a two-parent household.