Single-Parent Families

Characteristics of Single-Parent Families

The generally accepted definition of a singleparent home is a household in which one biological or adoptive parent raises at least one child under 18 years of age without the presence of a second adult. However, this general definition of single parenthood does not address the diversity in family form and basis. Considerable variations in a single-parent family exist, including the (Jones & Unger, 2000):

• Pathway that led to this status (i.e., never married, separated, divorced, or widowed)
• Household composition (e.g., multigenerational, cohabiting, or no additional adults present)
• Degree of support from family, friends, and absent parent
• Encompassing life conditions (e.g., economic, medical, psychological, and neighborhood)

In addition, ethnic diversity emerges as an especially important factor to consider in the incidence of single-parent homes. African American children are most likely to live in a single mother-child family (53% in 2000) compared to Hispanic (28%) and European American (21%) children. These differences reflect the heightened prevalence of nonmarital childbirth, higher rates of divorce, and lower remarriage rates among African American women compared with European American women (U.S. Bureau of Census, 2000). However, these statistics are misleading, as in the aggregate, the majority of children who reside with single parents were European American. Single-parent homes also differ in ethnic and cultural diversity regarding the basis for single parenthood.

Most European American children will reside in a postdivorce, single-parent home; however, African American children with single parents come from homes where their mother was never married. Racial differences also are apparent with regard to the head of the household in single-parent homes, with a significant percentage of African American children being raised by a grandparent alone and neither parent present. The dramatic increase in the prevalence of single fatherhood (percentage of single fathers increasing 25% from 1995 to 1998) is primarily among European American fathers (Lamb, 1999; U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2000).

Various social and psychological issues surround these various forms of single-parent families, as well as economic conditions. Economic destitution is a grave problem for many single-parent households, as 28% of single parents live below the poverty line (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2000). Single mothers have the lowest annual median income for any family form (Jones & Unger, 2000), and adolescent single parenthood is particularly linked to notable economic disadvantage. Recent estimates suggest that nearly 70% of adolescent mothers and their children live in poverty; only 2% of adolescent mothers eventually complete college (Stoiber, 1997; U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2000). Additional economic ramifications include that single parents are more likely to reside in rental housing units located in unsafe neighborhoods and they do not have health insurance for either themselves or their children. Researchers surmise that single mothers are at a greater risk of facing financial hardships because of lower educational attainment, less employment and earnings, little to nonexistent child support, and meager public assistance (Stoiber & colleagues, 1998). Although single fathers endure economic adversities, they are less likely to be poor and more likely to be employed compared to single mothers.

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