Single-parent households are more prevalent than ever before, with more than 23 million children in the United States growing up with an unmarried parent. They consist of children who live with couples who are cohabiting, but not married or step-parents. Single-parent families have been on the increase due to trends such as waiting until later in life to get married, falling marriage rates, rising divorce rates, and more babies born to unwed mothers.
The chances that a child grows up in a single-parent family depend greatly on race, ethnicity, and place. Black and American Indian or Alaska Native children are at risk of living in single-parent families, with 63% and 50% falling into this category. White and Asian, and Pacific Islander children are at risk, at 24% and 16%. Latino and multiracial children are in the middle. Family nativity is also involved—immigrant family children are more likely to reside with their parents who are married compared to those in non-immigrant families.
Location matters, too. In Utah, only about 19% of kids live in single-parent households, while in Louisiana, it’s nearly half. In cities like Detroit, more than two-thirds of children live in single-parent families, compared to just one in four in San Francisco. These numbers can vary even more at the congressional district level.
Socioeconomic status is closely linked to family structure. Almost 30% of single-parent households are below the federal poverty line, whereas only 6% of married-couple families are. Single mothers are particularly at risk of being impoverished. This economic disadvantage can have long-term effects on children, such as physical, mental, and behavioral health issues, interrupted brain development, shorter schooling length, and difficulties with employment in adulthood. Low-income families are frequently just above the poverty level, but their kids have more challenges than those from more affluent families. These families tend to reside in less secure neighborhoods with fewer opportunities for high-quality health care, support services, and enriching activities.
Parental stress is another key contributor. Single parents can have difficulty meeting such fundamental needs as food, housing, child care, and transportation. Having to cope with these issues by themselves can drive stress into overdrive, which in turn can trigger further challenges for children. Black, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Latino children perpetually face poverty at levels higher than the national rate, whether they live with one parent or two.
Single-parent children also have emotional and behavioral difficulties. They are more prone to risky behaviors than their peers with married parents. These include parental stress, break-ups, conflict, loss of social support, residence changes, and socio-economic barriers. Single-mother children have also been identified as being exposed to certain difficulties, including depression among newly divorced mothers and social isolation. Despite such difficulties, the majority of children in single-parent families become healthy adults when they receive support through caring relationships, stability, and mental health care.
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are increasingly being utilized to explain deviations in child development. These potentially traumatic experiences—such as divorce, poverty, mental health issues, home alcohol or other drug abuse, or exposure to domestic violence—can lead to toxic stress and have enduring effects on a child’s physical and mental health, education, and other life outcomes. Exposure to ACEs is race- and ethnicity-dependent, with American Indian or Alaska Native and Black children more likely to have multiple ACE exposures. The higher the number of ACEs the child experiences, the more likely it is that he or she will suffer negative effects, no matter what the family configuration is.
Education-wise, single-parent children are at higher risk for high school dropout compared to children whose parents are married. This increased risk is tied to fewer economic, social, and parental resources, greater family instability, and greater ACEs. They may have less time with their parent if the parent works long hours or have multiple jobs. When a family breaks up in a divorce or breakup, children spend less time with their nonresident parent, most likely the father. It is essential to have a supportive relationship with the noncustodial parent for the well-being of a child.
Single-parent households do have positives despite the stress. Some solo parents offer a stable and loving home and family life for kids. At times, it can remove years of arguing by divorce or breaking up and make a quieter household with less tension for all. Solo parents can spend even more time on their children without the needs of a partner.
Family forms are more varied than ever before, including blended step-families, gay and lesbian parent families, children living with a relative, and others. Parent or caregiver relationships can be biological, adoptive, step, kin, foster, or another type. It’s helpful to acknowledge the diversity instead of segmenting families into simply two or three types. Some single parents who elect to have children using donors or surrogacy may not experience the same socioeconomic disadvantage or stress as do others.
The discourse on single-parent families has tended to center around potential harm to children. What if we turn the discussion around and look at what children require to succeed? All young people thrive if they have responsible, committed relationships with parents or other caregivers, stable and secure environments, and access to sufficient resources and services. Providing equal opportunities and quality-of-life experiences can assist all children in achieving their potential