Running head: CHALLENGES OF A SINGLE-PARENT FAMILY STRUCTURE 1

Challenges of Single-Parent Family Structure

Alexander Negron

Jersey College School of Nursing

CHALLENGES OF A SINGLE-PARENT FAMILY STRUCTURE 2

Abstract

This paper examines the challenges of a single-mother family structure and the

challenges that are often faced. Such challenges range from financial to social stigma often

mentioned in the media. Children belonging to these family structures increase their chances of

becoming problematic later in life. Such challenges that a child may face is the prevalence of

higher crime rate and lower academic performance. This research paper also examines the

plausible solutions to common problems faced within single-mother family structures.

CHALLENGES OF A SINGLE-PARENT FAMILY STRUCTURE 3

Introduction

Single-parent families, especially those headed by woman, are a growing segment of

American society according to the U.S. Bureau of the Census (2010). (source #4). The

challenges within a family structure of a single mother often place the children involved at an

increased risk of an unsuccessful lifestyle. They often tend to live in a low-income housing

within a neighborhood filled with a high crime rate. The children often become unsuccessful at

the academic level and this mindset may often times is carried through generations. (source #

Financial Problems For Single Moms

Single mothers often find it very challenging to find employment for a number of reasons.

For one, they are usually faced with the question of who will take care of their child in their

absence. Secondly, if and when they do find someone to watch over their kids, they may be

limited in the amount of hours they may be able to give to their workplace (source). Often times,

single mothers who do not have any kind of education or training will usually become those who

will stay at home and receive some form of government assistance. The same cannot be said for

woman who are educated in some capacity (source). Single mothers who do not have any kind of

education will usually have a job that pays very minimal and then are faced with budgeting how

much to invest in day care. Many times mothers feel that there is less sense in working because

of the expense that is often found in day care for children. In the study done by (source), women

felt that it was much better to stay at home and take care of their own kids instead of working

and paying a day care. Such a pattern leads into a cycle in which a balance must be found within

trying to find time for employment and trying to find someone who may watch over their
CHALLENGES OF A SINGLE-PARENT FAMILY STRUCTURE 4

children.

Social Impact (Burden from Friends and extended Family)

Single mothers are often stereo typed as being ignorant by their lack of education (source)

and because they may seemingly engage in behavior to remain unemployed (source). Such

negative behavior often times reflects badly towards their friends and family. Friends and family

will often times become reluctant in helping out the mother. Some times single mothers may

even hesitate to ask anyone for help (source). The expression of negative support and feelings

of threat by family and friends increase the mothers burden and hinder her attempts to obtain

necessary job skills or qualification and to seek employment (source). Other mothers feel that

their friends and family arent willing to help because since they themselves arent helping

themselves and they dont want anyone becoming better, almost like a status quo. they don't

want anyone to become better than they are.

The Need to Stay Home..

Single mothers often feel the overwhelming obligation to stay at home and supervise their

children. Their need to over protect their children arises from the idea that they feel that without

their supervision, that their children may be negatively influenced (sources). These negative

influences may range anywhere from performing poorly in school to becoming involved with

crime and drugs. According to study conducted by (such and such), mothers who have a full-time

job who find themselves full filled more than likely have children at home who are more

compliant versus those mothers who are employed at a job that offers no stimulation or sense of

achievement. This may result because of the outlook the children have on the mother so therefor
CHALLENGES OF A SINGLE-PARENT FAMILY STRUCTURE 5

the children often times performed better in school and achieved higher IQ scores.

Providing safety was the major concern for single mothers. According to (such and such),

they often times find it very difficult to find someone trustworthy to watch over their kids. This

may be because of the fact that they themselves have been their only caregivers and they may

view their care as the best and the only way to care for their children (source).

Childrens Problems...

Children in households that are headed by mothers also have problems of their own.

Traditionally, households headed by single mothers have had the highest rates of child food

insecurities (source #3). This is the result of two different factors: one being that the mother is

unable to financially provide food for the family due to costs, and secondly because the mother is

not home to prepare meals. Children who are raised in homes where food insecurities poses a

serious risk to the health and well-being are at risk to developing behavioral problems, poor

health in infants and toddlers, and negative academic, social, and psychological outcomes in

older children and adolescents. (source #3)

Sociodemographic factors

Sociodemographic factors such as being male, living in poverty, and living in a single-

parent family have been associated with more incidents of antisocial and behavioral problems

(source #2). Additionally, youths are more likely to be influenced by deviant peers if they attend

lower-quality schools located in high-crime neighborhoods. Disruptive school behavior was

consistently associated with poor school achievement (as cited in, Dryfoos, 1990), and poor

school achievement was consistently identified as an important predictor of unsuccessful adult

CHALLENGES OF A SINGLE-PARENT FAMILY STRUCTURE 6

functioning. As a result, low academic achievement can lead to poverty, criminal behavior,

substance abuse, sexually transmitted diseases, and higher rates of suicide (source # 2).

Ways to remedy the situation

From an outsiders point of view, looking into a family headed by a single mother may

seem as though the family is doomed for failure. However, some modifications can be

implemented in order to bring success. While some solutions are more realistically possible to

achieve than others, they all can provide a much better outcome for both the mother and child.

Provide Day Care Easily

In a study done by (such and such source # 1), mothers expressed their frustration about

the difficulties faced when balancing a life at work and a life at home. Others also expressed the

difficulty of attending school because of a lack easy access day-care. Women in the study

mention that if schools and employers would provide on-site day care, that it would facilitate

their working or increasing their education (source #1).

Emotional Support from father

Having the proper support from friends and family was described as a factor that could

either make or break single-mothers (source #1). While not realistically modifiable, having a

proper support system would increase chances of success. Such a system would include the

involvement of the father. The women studied in (source #1) expressed that having a father

figure for their children was important especially for the young boys. The fathers financial

support of the family would also ease some of the mothers sense of overwhelming responsibility
CHALLENGES OF A SINGLE-PARENT FAMILY STRUCTURE 7

and obligation. (source #1). Families in which the mother worked and the father was present,

children did better in early measures of height and weight and had more advanced language

development due to an increase in financial resources (source #6). According to (source #5),

children develop optimally when there is both a primary caregiver who is committed to the well-

being of the children and another adult who gives support to the primary caregiver .

Improving Job Conditions & Education

Studies done by (such and such) and (such and such) seem to implicate that while working

mothers feel an overwhelming sense of need to be there for their children and to supervise

them from negative influences, - working a better job does in fact do the contrary.

Early studies comparing children whose low-income mothers were all employed documented

that full-time work and better jobs were associated with more optimal child outcomes than were

part-time work and less stimulating jobs. For example, one researcher found that fifth graders

from a poor neighborhood in North Philadelphia were better adjusted, had higher IQ scores, and

saw their mothers as more consistent with discipline when their mothers were employed full time

rather than part time.

CHALLENGES OF A SINGLE-PARENT FAMILY STRUCTURE 8

References

Youngblut, J. M., Singer, L. T., Madigan, E. A., Swegart, L. A., & Rodgers, W. L. (1997). Mother

Child, and Family Factors Related to Employment of Single Mothers with LBW

Preschoolers. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 21(2), 247263. doi:10.1111/j.1471-

6402.1997.tb00111.x

Youngblut, J. M., Brady, N. R., Brooten, D., & Thomas, D. J. (2000). Factors Influencing Single

Mothers Employment Status. Health Care for Women International, 21(2), 125136.