Heat or Eat: Exploring the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on single parents’ mental wellbeing in the United Kingdom

The cost-of-living crisis in the United Kingdom has profoundly affected the mental wellbeing of single parents, compounding economic and psychosocial challenges. This study, through semi-structured online interviews with four female single parents, used thematic analysis to explore how financial burdens, mood fluctuations, sacrifices for children's needs, and intensified social isolation impacted their mental health. The application of Social Identity Theory demonstrates the exacerbating effects of societal stigmas. The results highlight the need for targeted policies and interventions to alleviate these strains and recommend further research into the intersectionality of gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status among single parents.