Introduction: The development of a child relies heavily on family. Family is a highly important factor that must be considered and understood when looking at the overall development of humans (Lidz 1983). Traditionally families are composed of two parental figures of the opposite sex and their biological children. The numbers of traditional two parent families have dwindled over the decades. These types of families are rapidly declining in modern society. Single parents are raising a significantly larger proportion of children. In 2007 there were approximately 13.7 million single parents in the United States. Of these, approximately 84% of mothers had custody of the children and merely 16% of custodial parents were fathers. More than half of all children worldwide spend at least a period of their childhood in a single parent led environment (Hernandez 1988), and often custody of the child belongs to the mother (Bumpass & Raley 1995). Researchers often promote that children raised in single parent families tend to be worse off than those in two parent families, they promote that there is a degree of dysfunction within these households that sees the children being treated in a manner that disrupts their emotional and cognitive development. This research, though widely supported (there is a large degree of research that supports the hypothesis that single parent families have negative effects on the outcome of children) has been shown to overlook the variability within families characterized as “single parent families” (Richards and Schmiege, 1993). This lack of focus on the variability sees the results found being unjustly generalized. The essay aims to tackle this issue by looking at a number of different studies and weighi... ... middle of paper ... ...mc/articles/PMC3074431/#!po=1.61290> 18. Webster-Stratton C, Hammond M. Maternal depression and its relationship to life stress, perceptions of child behavior problems, parenting behaviors, and child conduct problems. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology. 1988;16:299–315. 19. Wolf, Jennifer. "Single Parent Statistics." About.com Single Parents. About.com Guide, n.d. Web. 14 July 2013. . 20. "Dysfunctional Family." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 09 Dec. 2012. Web. 13 June 2013. . 21. Wise, Sarah. "Family Structure, Child Outcomes And environmental Mediators: An Overview of the Development in Diverse Families Study." Aifs.gov.au. Australian Institute of Family Studies, Jan. 2003. Web. 12 July 2013. .
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
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.
However, as generations have moved into the 21th century there has been a major switch in the family unit. There is no considerable amount of family which can be defined as single parents home on the rise as the normal family or nuclear unit. “Whether a single-parent household is formed following divorce, separation, widowhood, or an out-of-wedlock birth, it is clear that the single-parent household has become a new family form in contemporary society”(Anderson,S,A,2010). Single parent’s household may not be the biological parent. Single parent’s household included mother, father, grandparents, foster or adopted parent, and a sibling. Each family unit is very unique and diverse which can amount to the vast differences between the families. However, there are many aspects that each single family household may have similarities. As a single parent can be more prone to stress and the children are often at a disadvantage when it comes to their mental and emotional health. Men and women who are a single parent family often struggle more than a two parents household because everything is rely on one parent. While single parents can different backgrounds which have lead to the single parent situations such as divorce, death, or other unique arrangements that can result in a change of family dynamics. This paper it will examine the similarities and the differences in families when single parents result from divorce, death and never married
In today’s society, the amounts of single-parent households are increasing and this is another reason for the existence of childhood poverty. Statistics show that children living in single-parent homes are five times more likely to be poor. More people are getting divorced and are also having children outside of wedlock. It has also been said that women rather than men head about 90% of single-parent families. One of the
Families are becoming more diverse and they come in all shapes and sizes. Some people consider families to be strictly biological, while others consider people they love to be their family. Although two-parent families, also known as a nuclear family are the majority, one-parent families are becoming more common in today’s society. A sole-parent is considered to be a parent without a partner or spouse who is the primary care giver of one or more children in a household (Ministry of Social Development, 2010). From the age of 14 onward I was raised by m...
Single parenting numbers increase each year. In America there is almost fourteen million single parents raising about thirty-two million children, twenty six percent are under twenty one years of age. Eighty-two percent of single parents are mothers and about eighteen percent are fathers (“Single Parent Statistics-Average Single Parent Statistics”).There are a lot of stereo types about single parents, most of which are untrue, but some can be true also. Single parenting is becoming more common in this generation, and it’s not just because of one reason. There are many reasons these days that there are single parents.
Single parent homes are becoming more common as time goes on. With this growing number, the traditional nuclear family seems to be less relevant. Welna reports that “[t]he portion of children living with a single parent has jumped over a generation from 1 out of 20 to about 1 out of 5 children” (1999, p. xii). Within a few decades, single parenting became very common among the modern society. This is a large shift and changes civilization. However, this difference it isn’t expressed very much. Television doesn’t show a lot of representation for
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.
The Family structure has changed significantly in the last fifty years. With higher percentages of marriage ending in divorce, and higher rates of childbearing out of wedlock, single parent families are increasing rapidly. “Seventy percent of all the children will spend all or part of their lives in a single-parent household.” (Dowd) Studies have shown that the children of these families are affected dramatically, both negatively and positively. Women head the majority of single- parent families and as a result, children experience many social problems from growing up without a father. Some of these problems include lack of financial support, and various emotional problems by not having a father around, which may contribute to problems later in life. At the same time, children of single-parent homes become more independent because they learn to take care of themselves, and rely on others to do things for them.
Everyone has a family, rather it is with your biological relatives or long-time friends. A lot of people have been raised in different types of households rather it is with a grandparent or a foster parent. Everyone has their own individual story of their particular support system. In most cases, people have been raised with both parents, which is ideal in this society. As years gone by, a lot of changes have occurred within raising a family, whether it be getting raised by a LGBT couple or being raised by a sibling. The most common change that has occurred is single-parenting. A lot of children are being raised by either just their mother or father. In most cases, the mother is the single parent. Being a single parent can be a blessing and a curse at the same time. In this essay, I will explain the ups and downs that come with being a single-parent.
Children’s development in all aspects are influenced by genetic composition (Nature) and the environment in which they grow (Nurture). They are influenced by all adults in which they come into significant contact. Smiling at someone unfamiliar or speaking to a stranger is less likely to have a lasting impact on the child or their development. However, parents and immediate family have the most impact on a child’s development. A family is defined as at least one adult and one child who live together and in which the adult is control of the child’s life and behavior as well as demonstrates responsible care for the child (McDevitt & Ormand, 2013). Parents are the primary educators and caregivers,
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.
A child is heavily impacted by the single parent he/she was raised by. Whether it is negative or positive, it is the parent’s responsibility. Gymnast Louis Smith, Barack Obama, SarahJane Funnell, Bradley Wiggins, Paloma Faith, to name a few, were brought up by single parents and they have all become successful in a way. We know there are more troubled children in single-parent households, but single-parenting as a whole should not entirely be looked at negatively. Although it may be difficult to get through the hardships especially for young children growing up, it is the parent’s ultimate job to ensure that their child is getting the healthy and happy lifestyle they need to take on the various factors that come along with single-parenting.
In this day and time it is common for children to be raised in a single parent households
For many years, children growing up in a single parent family have been viewed as different. Being raised by only one parent seems impossible to many yet over the decades it has become more prevalent. In today’s society many children have grown up to become emotionally stable and successful whether they had one or two parents to show them the rocky path that life bestows upon all human beings. The problem lies in the difference of children raised by single parents versus children raised by both a mother and a father. Does a child need both parents? Does a young boy need a father figure around? Does the government provide help for single parents? What role do step-parents and step-siblings play? With much speculation, this topic has become a very intriguing argument. 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