Single Parent Homes

Single parent homes: How are they affecting our youth? The cause of behavioral and/or emotional problems among our youth could come from being raised in a single parent home. Many children resort to negative acts of behavior because of limited parental supervision within the single parent household. Children are two to three times more likely to have emotional and behavioral problems in single parent homes (Maginnis, 1997).

Research and etiology on the problem behaviors in childhood and adolescence often focus on the role of the family on the development of antisocial behavior. An important factor examined in past studies has been family structure, and this research has shown that youth from single parent families often have higher rates of problem behaviors including substance abuse, aggression, school dropout, and teenage pregnancy. Although the reasons for the higher rates of problem behavior among single parent families remain unclear, a number of factors are likely to contribute. For example, single parents often have limited financial resources, greater social isolation, and fewer coping resources compared with parents in traditional two parent families. Also, youth from single parent families appear to be more susceptible to peer pressure and more likely to make decisions without consulting a parent. (Griffin, Botvin, Scheier, Diaz, & Miller, 2000, p. 174)

Single parent households can include families that have been disrupted because of marital separation, divorce, or because the child was conceived outside of marriage. The typical single parent household is guided by mother (Cairney, Pevalin, Wade, Veldhuizen, & Arboleda-Florez, 2006). A study was done by Cairney, Pevalin, Wade, Veldhuizen, and Arboleda-Florez (2006) to analyze psychiatric disorders among single and married mothers. In this study they found a higher percentage of single mothers developed a psychiatric disorder, which may include depression, anxiety disorders, mood disorders or

References: Cairney, J., Pevalin, D.J., Wade, T.J., Veldhuizen, S., Arboleda-Florez, J. (2006 September). Twelve-Month Psychiatric Disorder Among Single and Married Mothers: The role of Marital History. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 51(10), 671-677. Retrieved on June 30, 2007 from Proquest. Griifin, K.W., Botvin, G.J., Scheier, L.M., Diaz, T., & Miller, N.L. (2000 June). Parenting practices as predictors of substance abuse, delinquency, and aggression among urban minority youth: Moderating effects of family structure and gender. US: Educational–Publishing Foundation, 14(2), 174-184. Retrieved on June 30, 2007 from EBSCOhost. Hollist, D.R., Mcbroom, W.H. (2006). Family Structure, Family Tension, and Self-reported Marijuana Use: A Research Finding of Risky Behavior among Youths. Journal of Drug Issues, 36(4), 975-998. Retrieved on July 19, 2007 form EBSCOhost. Knoester, C., Hayne, D.L. (2005). Tough Neighborhoods. Journal of Marriage and Family, 67, 767-780. Maginnis, R.L. (1997). Single-parent Families Cause Juvenile Crime. Opposing Viewpoints: Juvenile Crime. Retrieved on August 17, 2007 form Thomson Gale PowerSearch. Peden, A.R., Rayens, M.K., Hall, L.A., & Grant, E. (2004). Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 36(4), 337. Retrieved on August 17, 2007 from Thomson Gale PowerSearch. Single Parent Homes Tied to Mental Illness. (2003 January 24). The New York Times, 6(5), 18. Retrieved on August 17, 2007 from Thomson Gale PowerSearch. Walker, L.J., Hennig, K.H. (1997 January). Parent/child relationships in single parent families. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 29(1), 63. Retrieved on June 30, 20007 from Proquest.