Family breakdown

There are many different issues associated with the breakdown of a family, and various factors that contribute to the issues the arise from this. The cause of a breakdown could vary from mutual separation, financial stress, and poverty to domestic violence, Abuse, imprisonment or even death (Utting, 1995). Families vary culturally, financially and geographically. Research into how such issues effect the wellbeing of a child suggests that, depending on a families make up, depends on how the issues associated with family breakdown effects them. Some of the key issues identified from a family breaking down are; the cost it has on society, a child's wellbeing, mental health issues in children continuing into adulthood, severe anti-social behaviours, emotional and psychological stress, lack of educational achievement and lack of social competence (Jeynes, 2002). Due to there being a vast array of issues, this artefact will review the issues of mental health, anti- social behaviours, lack of educational achievement, all with regards to children and the cost of family breakdown to society.

Demographic and social changes over the last three decades have resulted in a more diverse, complex family situation. There are many more couples choosing to cohabit and become parents nowadays instead of marrying. Due to there being a higher proportion of parental separation within this group, there is a higher probability of a child experiencing being part of a step family or having a lone parent then was previously the case (Wallerstein,Lewis & Blakeslee, 2002). Over recent years there has been growing interest with regards to the impact this experience has on children. This is a key issue for policymakers since although the government wants to support stable relationships between parents, where they break down there is a responsibility to provide support to ensure positive outcomes for children (Miles & Stephenson, 2000).

Results Gathered from a public opinion poll