Strengths and Challenges of Single-Parent Families

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Strengths and Challenges of Single-Parent Families

• Dr. Linda Skogrand
• Associate Professor and Extension Specialist
• Department of Family, Consumer, and Human
  Development
• Utah State University
• Logan, Utah
• United States

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What We Know about Single-Parent Families

• Single-parent families, with children under age
  18, make up 26 of all U.S. families at any given
  time
• 40 of all children will live in single-parent
  families at some point in their lives

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Redefining Single-Parent Families

• In the past, single-parent families in the U.S.
  resulted primarily from divorce
• The divorce rate in the U.S. is currently at
  40-50, so many single-parent families do result
  from divorce
• Estimates are that 60 or more people co-habit
  and 40 of cohabiting couples have children
  together

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Redefining Single-Parent Families (cont.)

• Half of non-marital births are in couples that
  are co-habiting
• Therefore, co-habiting couples with children may
  have two parents who are involved in the lives of
  children

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Redefining Single-Parent Families (cont.)

• Currently 40 of all children are born to single
  motherswith half of those children born to
  couples who are co-habiting
• We are left with 20 of children who are not in
  co-habiting relationshipswho may have limited or
  no support from a significant other

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Redefining Single-Parent Families (cont.)

• Many single-parent families live in
  extended-family households
• We have seen an increase in multi-generational
  family households, with 16 (up from 12) of U.S.
  population living in households that include at
  least two adult generations
• Single-parent families may have differing family
  household arrangements in diverse cultures
• And they may rely on varying community resources,
  such as churches for support

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Redefining Single-Parent Families (cont.)

• Approximately 35 of divorced parents have joint
  custody of children
• 30 to 60 of children have at least weekly
  contact with their fathers
• Gay and lesbian couples raise children together
  and both parents may be involved in many or all
  aspects of family life

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Other Issues around Single-Parent Families

• Being in a single-parent family can be viewed as
  being positive or negative depending upon what
  their previous lives were like
• Emotional dimensions may involve grief or joy

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Therefore. . . .

• . . . . .Single-parent families
• are complex!

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Challenges of Being in Single-Parent Families

• Financially, many single-parent families struggle
• Experiencing the stigma of being in a
  single-parent family
• Having to juggle everything alone and making
  decision alone

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Benefits of Being in Single-Parent Families

• There is closeness between the parent and
  child/children
• The parent and child/children get to do hard
  things
• Parents and children may be forced in to
• situations that are ultimately beneficial
• Parenting and decision-making do not need to be
  negotiated with another adult

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What and Who Do Single-parent Families Rely On?

• Family and friends
• Spiritual and/or religious resources
• A positive attitude
• A sense of humor