[One-parent families in Spain: a critical review]

"The purpose of this article is to work out a theoretical and analytical framework for the study of one-parent families in Spain and to make some recommendations concerning research strategies and family policy on the matter. The authors start examining various symbolic representations associated with different terms applied to this phenomenon and wondering to what extent it is useful and legitimate to group under the cover of the concept radically different social situations. They also review various typologies used to study one-parent families and comment on the dearth of information and data in Spain which prevents...a correct diagnosis of the situation of lone parenthood in the context of trends observed in the European Union." (SUMMARY IN ENG)