Single Parent Homes and Academic Achievement
| Single-Parent Homes | The Effect of Single-Parent Homes on Academic Achievement | |
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Abstract
Children from single parent homes are not as negatively impacted academically as some in the popular media suggest. The number of children living in single-parent homes has risen dramatically over the last 10 years. Despite prior research stating that single-parenting itself has a negative impact on academic achievement, new findings show that it is other social and environmental factors that have a much greater impact. There are several theories that can be used to study the way family structure influences academic achievement, as well as to demonstrate the influence of other factors such as poverty and family resources. When these factors are more closely examined it is evident that within any family structure a lack of necessary financial and supportive resources will negatively affect children’s academic achievement. As the number of both single and two-parent families living in poverty rises, this research is important in helping to develop an educational system in the United States that is both equal and effective for the growing changes in family demographics.
Keywords: academic achievement, single-parent homes, Family Deficit Model, Risk and Protective Factor Model, social capital theory, parental involvement
Children from single parent homes are not as negatively impacted academically as some in the popular media suggest. Raising children without a partner presents many challenges, but there is research that points to strategies to mitigate these issues. Specifically in terms of children’s academic achievement, studies show that it is other social and environmental factors, not single parenthood itself, which accounts for the achievement gap between children from single-parent homes and their peers from nuclear families.
Statistics
In 2007, there were approximately 13.7 million single parents in the United States (Wolf, 2011). This number
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Abstract
Children from single parent homes are not as negatively impacted academically as some in the popular media suggest. The number of children living in single-parent homes has risen dramatically over the last 10 years. Despite prior research stating that single-parenting itself has a negative impact on academic achievement, new findings show that it is other social and environmental factors that have a much greater impact. There are several theories that can be used to study the way family structure influences academic achievement, as well as to demonstrate the influence of other factors such as poverty and family resources. When these factors are more closely examined it is evident that within any family structure a lack of necessary financial and supportive resources will negatively affect children’s academic achievement. As the number of both single and two-parent families living in poverty rises, this research is important in helping to develop an educational system in the United States that is both equal and effective for the growing changes in family demographics.
Keywords: academic achievement, single-parent homes, Family Deficit Model, Risk and Protective Factor Model, social capital theory, parental involvement
Children from single parent homes are not as negatively impacted academically as some in the popular media suggest. Raising children without a partner presents many challenges, but there is research that points to strategies to mitigate these issues. Specifically in terms of children’s academic achievement, studies show that it is other social and environmental factors, not single parenthood itself, which accounts for the achievement gap between children from single-parent homes and their peers from nuclear families.
Statistics
In 2007, there were approximately 13.7 million single parents in the United States (Wolf, 2011). This number
References: DeNavas-Walt, C. P. (2011). U.S. Census Bureau, Current Populations Reports, Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2010. Washington D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. Entwisle, D. A. (1995). A Parent 's Economic Shadow: Family Structure Versus Family Resources as Influences on Early School Achievement. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 399-409. Lewis, A. (1995, February). Changing Views of Parental Involvement. Phi Delta Kappan, pp. 430-432. Pong, S. D.-T. (2003). Family Policy 's and Children 's School Achievement in Single- Versus Two-Parent Families. Journal of Marriage and Family, 681-699. Shriner, M. M. (2010). Variations in Family Structure and School-Age Children 's Academic Achievement: A Social and Resource Capital Perspective. Marriage and Family Review, 445-467. Wolf, J. (2011, November). Single Parent Statistics - Figures on Kids Being Raised By One Adult. Retrieved from About.com: http://singleparents.about.com/od/legalissues/p/portrait.htm This website article outlines statistics collected from the U.S