The Effects of Single Parents on Boys
Parents always want to do what is best for their children. Unfortunately, sometimes circumstances dictate decisions that may not bring about the best results for our children, including divorce and single parenting. It's important to take a look at what's going on beneath the surface to see how being raised by a single parent may affect a young boy.
Other People Are Reading
-
Behavior
-
Immediately after divorce (or other removal of a parent) children, especially boys, tend to have a higher rate of anti-social behavior. Children act out in school, are more aggressive with other children and tend to be less focused on their studies. Boys in particular tend to be more likely to experiment with drugs or alcohol to deal with the pain of something missing in their family relationships.
Absenteeism and Drop-out Rates
-
In families where the only parent at home is the mother, children have a host of problems related to falling into a lower socio-economic class, which is common after divorce or when the mother is the only parent at home. All children in this situation tend to have higher rates of absenteeism due to increased illness related to a low socio-economic background. In addition, boys in particular have a higher drop-out rate, which perpetuates a lower educational level and income.
-
At Risk
-
A study of Swedish children found the most alarming results of boys living with a single parent: They were 50 percent more likely than others to die of any cause before reaching adulthood. They were five times more likely to die of an addiction and four times more likely to die of violence than boys with two parents. These results were worse for older children than for younger children.
Mediating Factors
-
While the results seem dire, there are mediating factors that can reduce risks to boys and change what seems to be a seriously negative impact of growing up with one parent. A parent who owns or rents a house can alter these risk factors, as can those who spend quality time with their children. Establishing a mentoring relationship between a boy and a professional man or even a college student can be another mediating factor. Interestingly, additional siblings can make a substantial difference in these negative effects, as well.
-
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Goodshoot/Getty Images
