Children’s Well-Being Not Negatively Affected By Living In Single-Parent Households – New Study

MessageToEagle.com – The experience of single parenthood is more common than typically reported – and children’s well-being is not negatively affected by living in single parent households, researchers from the University of Sheffield say.

A report by Sumi Rabindrakumar, in her role as policy officer at the leading national charity working with single parent families, Gingerbread, and University of Sheffield researchers, found that public policy and research needs a more nuanced understanding of single parent family life – reflecting how households change over time.

The study, carried out as part of the University’s Crook Public Service Fellowship scheme, explored the experiences of more than 27,800 households with children over a six-year period.

It found that, while surveys typically suggest that one in four families with children are headed by a single parent at any one point in time, data suggests that one in three families with children will have been a single parent family at some point over a six-year period.

“We have been supporting single parent families for a hundred years and we know first-hand how strong and diverse single parents and their families are,” Rosie Ferguson, Chief Executive at Gingerbread, said in a press release.

“Our report with the University of Sheffield debunks myths about single parent households and significantly, it shows that children are not negatively impacted if raised by a lone parent. What is most important to a child’s well being is the presence of positive relationships.

“We urge policymakers and researchers alike to do more to challenge popular stereotypes and reflect the dynamism of family life.”

The report found transitions out of single parent family status are also common. Over six years, one in seven single parents reported getting married or cohabiting – and of these parents, nearly three quarters re-partnered with a biological parent of their child.

The study also found there is no evidence of a negative impact of living in a single parent household on children’s well-being regarding life satisfaction, quality of peer relationships.

“By taking a more dynamic view of family life, these findings challenge common political and public narratives around single parents and their families,” Sumi Rabindrakumar, added.

“Not only is the experience of single parenthood more common than typically reported, but family and caring relationships are more complex and often extend beyond the household unit.

Read more –here.

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