How Children of Single Parent Families are Affected Essay -- The Effect

The Effects of a Single Parent Home on a Child's Behavior 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. â€Å"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. It is never a child’s decision to only live with one parent. There are many ways that single-parent homes occur. Some of these ways include unplanned pregnancy, divorce, the decision to be a single parent by choice, and death of a spouse. In every case families are disputed greatly. Parents might experience depression, emotional problems etc†¦. but the child is affected the most. Single-parent families are commonly targeted for controversial issues. We must be careful that we don’t stereotype these when they’re very hard to take care of themselves and their children. We do however need to notice distinct patterns in children who give up in a single parent home and what problems they face. Even though a dual family is noted as the best environment for c... ... social issue is being addressed, we are finding more ways of how to deal with the problems that single-parent families face. The parents might go through a lot providing for their children, but we cannot forget the efforts of the children that are making it without two parents and becoming strong, independent, self-sufficient individuals. Work Cited 1. Blankenhorn, David. Fatherless America. New York: A Davidon Of Harper Collins Publisher, 1995 2. Dowd, Nancy. In Defense Of Single Parent Families. New York: New York University, 1997 3. Single Parents’ Kids Do as well in School As Those in Two-Parent Homes: Infotrac.. October 25, 1999.Online. . 4. Swisher, Karin L. Single-Parent Families. Ca : GreenhavenPress Inc, 1997 Wurzel, Barbara J. Growing up in Single Parent Families. Columbus: November1, 2000. Infotrac. Online. .