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Causes and effects of divorce on children
Causes and effects of divorce on children
Research on the effects of divorce on the children
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Over the past decades, the patterns of family structure have changed dramatically in the United States. The typical nuclear family, two married parents with children living together in one household, is no longer the structure of the majority of the families today. The percentage of single-parent families, step-families and adopted families has increased significantly over the years. The nuclear family is a thing of the past. Family situations have tremendous influence upon a child’s academic achievement, behavior and social growth. The present structure of the average family in America is changing, mainly due to the growing number of mothers who now work outside the home. The current mark of dual-earner families stands at 64 percent, making it a solid majority today. This alteration of the "traditional" structure of the family is a channel for other changes that may soon occur. Two-parent families consist of a mother and father living in a home with dependent children. The family may consist of a biological mother and father or a step-parent. In two-parent families found little or no negative effects. Researchers suggest that children from two parent families are less likely to have social issues. Children raised in two-parent homes are more likely to complete high school and attend college. Cho, Lee, and Kuchner (2007) found that students raised in two parent homes demonstrate better behavior, have less absences and tardies and have much higher grade point averages. Researchers suggest that children from two parent homes have better grades and achieve academically as well as socially because the parents have more time to devote to the upbringing of the children oppose to single parents. Although two-parent familie... ... middle of paper ... ...ents in Single Parent Families. Sex Roles. 56: 149-157 Deplanty, Jennifer, Duchane, A Kim, Kern-Coulter Russell (2007). Perceptions of Parent Involvement in Academic Achievement. The Journal of Educational Research. Vol 100, No. 6, 361 Stolley, K.S. (1993). Statistics on adoption in the United States. The Future of Children: Adoption, 3(1), 26-42 Sweeney, M Megan (2007). Stepfather Families and the Emotional Well-Being of Adolescents. Journal of Health and Social Behavior. Vol 48, No. 1, 33-49 Thiessen, Sarah (1997). Effects of Single Parenting on Adolescent Academic Achievement: Establishing a risk and protective framework Walsh, Froma (2003). Normal Family Processes: Diversity and Complexity. New York, NY: Guilford Press http://family.jrank.org/pages/1577/Single-Parent-Families-Effects-on-Children.html retrieved August 24, 2008
Young, P. (1991). “Families with adolescents,” in F. Brown (Ed.), Reweaving the Family Tapestry, (New York: Norton), pp. 131-148.
...istics, 1999). McBride, Brent A., Sara K., Sullivan, and Ho-Ho (2005) reported about the achievement levels in a adolescent who grows up with a father, “A study of 1330 children from the PSID showed that fathers who are involved on a personal level with their child schooling increases the likelihood of their child's achievement. When fathers assume a positive role in their child's education, students feel a positive impact.” (p. 201-216). Children who do not grow up in a two parent homes, are more likely to fail and repeat a grade in school. It is also important to note that children who grow up in single parent families are less likely to have parents involved with the school, 62% of children with two parent homes have parents that are involved in school, while children from single parent homes have half of them involved in school (Nord, Winquist, West, 2001).
In conclusion this paper has shown my perceptions on the described topics. I have identified why the family is considered the most important agent in socialization. I explained the dramatic changes to the American family and what caused them. I explained the differences in marriage and family. I expressed my feelings on the trend of diverse families, and how a change in trends to traditional views would change women’s rights.
Statistics show that the rate of adoption has grown since the 1900s. In 1944, about 50,000 adoptions took place in the U.S. The greatest known number of adoptions took place in 1970 when 175,000 children were adopted. Currently, there is only limited statistical information on U.S. adoptions. (Child Welfare Information Par. 2) The most complete statistics were gathered by the National Center for Social Statistics (NCSS) from 1957 through 1975. Most new statistical information about adoption is being gathered and analyzed by private organizations, through private surveys and research. (National Adoption Information Clearinghouse, http://statistics.adoption.com/information/adoption-statistics-overview.html)
Families.” University of Delaware – Human Development and Family Studies. N.p., 2008. 1-36. Web. 13 Dec. 2013.
Archives are filled with articles focused on the outcomes of children raised in single parent homes versus children raised in the nuclear family setting. The subject is highlighted in mass volumes throughout various internet blog forums, newspaper articles, and popular magazines detailing the statistical data and reputed points of view on the outcomes of the subject. Countless bloggers provide substantial personal testimonies highlighting both ends in the debate, while giving readers an inside-look at this situation from all different walks of life. Developing this issue into a broader context, we as the readers have to consider the magnitude of the issue and ask ourselves, “In concern with the betterment of my family, which lifestyle could I possibly adopt to ensure that my children are adequately socialized and prepped for life outside the parental structure?” However, this is not a question that requires a prognosis from a prominent sociologist; in fact, children raised in single parent families are just as capable at success as children raised in the traditional family setting.
As a child, living with a single parent can take a toll on academics and behavior. According to McLanahan and Sandefur, “The high school dropout rate of children of divorced parents is roughly two times higher than that of children of which the parents did not divorce” (“Children Divorce Statistics”). This statistic shows that living with a single parent can have a serious effect on a student's life and they are twice as
What people must understand is that properly raising a child does not rely on the structure of a family but should be more focused on the process When a topic such as this one has a broad amount of variables it is impossible to simply link these problems to only having one parent. In the article, “Single-parent families cause juvenile crime”, author Robert L. Maginnis states, “Children from single-parent families are more likely to have behavior problems because they tend to lack economic security and adequate time with parents”. The simple statement that raw criminals are products of single-parent adolescence is absurd. What this writer must understand is that it can be extremely difficult for one parent to raise a child by themselves for many reasons. A single-parent must work full time to be able to afford to provide for themselves and their child.
Research shows that a child being raised in a single-parent home may also end up suffering from anxiety, major depression, and substance abuse for those who are between the ages 21 to 25. Research also shows that they may also have suicidal thoughts and may also attempt suicide at some point in their lives. It is also possible that they may end up without a college degree and will most likely be depending on government assistance. A child raised with just one parent also has a higher risk of going to jail at some point in their lives. In other words, a child coming from a single parent home has a higher chance of having an unstable life (Ferguson et
3. Single Parents’ Kids Do as well in School As Those in Two-Parent Homes: Infotrac.. October 25, 1999.Online. .
The family structure has a made a significant change over the years. It is often believed that a child being raised in a single parent house will most likely grow up and not attend college. People believe that a child from a two-parent. This is often true, but there are some children who are raised by single parents who do not fit this trend. One challenge that a single parent house faces are the mother can find this a struggle because lack of financial support or the child growing up without a father, lacks emotional support. While this may be true sometimes, there are some children who can possibly take this challenge and use it. For example, the child could be more mature, more independent and learn to take care of them. Also, some children
Becoming a parent at such a young age lacks in preparedness and responsibility. This tends to happen in numerous occasions and the effect it has on the child is the feeling of abandonment, or child neglect in most cases. Single-parent households are run by mothers in the absence of a father. The lack of financial support from a father often results in single mothers working more which can, in turn affect children because they receive less attention and guidance with their academics. Children coming from a divorced home often have long term effects such as less satisfying relationships with their parents in the future, have trouble with their adult hood relationships, and are much more like to have a divorce themselves. Unlike these children, kids coming from a two parent home are raised in a much different environments. For instance they have two caregivers, two providers, as well as two forms of guidance and support. These kids are less likely to lack in their studies because there may be more of an engagement from both parents as far as their academics come. One parent may be the active financial provider, as the other parent may be in charge of other duties such as the well being of the children and be the stability in the home. By splitting parenting duties the relationship between the children with parents becomes stronger and stands on a strong foundation. Children in these circumstances have more guidance and emotional support. Parents find activities to keep children active and growing with positive
Throughout history a one-parent household has been deemed as a nontraditional family, but in today’s society it seems more and more common with every day. Although the reason and causes vary, each year the number of children raised by a single parent increases. Most people don’t seem to realize how much this can change a child’s future. The impact of childhood experiences simply set the disposition of adulthood and the rest of their lives. There is not one sole factor that affects child development, but one very important one is the role and relationship created with one’s parents. How a child is parented and raised leaves a lasting impression on them, commonly for a lifetime. You can see how this might alter a child, being that one parent is missing. Child development based off of living in a one-parent household is very circumstantial because each child and each parent are different individuals. But one thing is for sure; all areas of child development can be affected due to a missing parent, including social, cognitive emotional, and physical areas. I sat down with Dr. Carlos Antoline, a children’s school psychologist to see what the real impact of growing up in a one-parent household has on child development.
It has been said, children from two-parent families are better off. The setting is also a factor to take into consideration. The increase in single- parent homes has had an extensive and negative effect on children’s development. 50% of marriages end in divorce. We have young people with young minds having children, they can hardly take care of themselves at the age of 21, yet they have decided to bring four children into this world to be raised by one parent. In some communities, majority of the children are being raised by a single parent. Statistics have shown that children raised in a healthy single parent home have more problems emotionally, psychologically, in school, and with the law than those raised in healthy two-parent homes. No matter how good a single parent is, that a single parent can NEVER do for the child how two present, committed, parent partners share and work together; communicate together and solve problems together as equals.
when a child has been raised in a two-parent home, the parents have shared the responsibility in caring for the child, guiding the child, and providing discipline. When the child’s parents have not lived together, one parent tended to take on the role of being the sole provider of parental duties and providing financial provision. The nonresident parent tended not to be involved in the daily activities of the child’s life, and had less interaction with the child.