Term: Single Parent Family (formerly Lone Parent Family)

Glossary Definition

Last Updated: 2024-03-12

Definition:

Statistics Canada defines a single parent family as a mother or a father, with no spouse or common-law partner present, living in a dwelling with one or more never married sons and/or daughters. The never married sons and/or daughters may be blood, step, or adopted children of any age.

Related concepts 

• Family Structure Overview - Links to Family Structure Data and Related Concepts and Glossary Terms
• Siblings

Related terms 

• Family Structure, Registry
• Single Parent (formerly Lone Parent)

References 

• Brownell M, Martens PJ, Kozyrskyj A, Fergusson P, Lerfald J, Mayer T, Derksen S, Friesen D. Assessing the Health of Children in Manitoba: A Population-Based Study. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy and Evaluation, 2001. [Report] [Summary] (View)
• Brownell M, Lix L, Ekuma O, Derksen S, Dehaney S, Bond R, Fransoo R, MacWilliam L, Bodnarchuk J. Why is the Health Status of Some Manitobans Not Improving? The Widening Gap in the Health Status of Manitobans. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2003. [Report] [Summary] (View)
• Statistics Canada. "Lone-parent family.” Definitions, data sources and methods. September 9, 2021. (Published on Statistics Canada website: https://www23.statcan.gc.ca/imdb/p3Var.pl?Function=Unit&Id=236985 - accessed on February 20, 2024). [Summary] (View)