5: Non-Traditional Parenting Flashcards
(39 cards)
What is the traditional family structure?
2 parents with 1.7 children, typically biological child(ren).
What is the most common non-traditional family structure?
Single (lone) parents.
What percentage of children lived in lone parent households in the UK in the 1990s?
18%.
< 10% lived with fathers
How many lone-parent families were there in the UK in 2023?
3.2 million.
(ONS, 2024)
What percentage of all families with dependent children are lone parents as of 2022?
23%.
(almost 1/4)
List some common stressors faced by single parents.
- Financial problems
- Relationship problems
- Lack of time
- Parenting demands.
Excessive demands on time and high stress levels
What is the significance of social support for single parents?
Social support can compensate for stress
* Supportive family, friends, community etc.
Perception of support is what’s important
True or False: Neighbourhood stress is linked to poorer child psychological adjustment.
True.
Low income neighbourhoods and lone parents
Greater number of single parents living in challenging neighbourhoods (stressor)
* Neighbourhood stress linked to greater psychological distress and less positive parenting practices (Kotchick et al., 2005)
What are some less adaptive parenting behaviors observed in single parents?
- Less supervision
- Less help with school work
- More likely to leave child alone
Due to less time
What type of parenting is less common among single parents?
Authoritative parenting.
What did the longitudinal study find regarding child outcomes across different family structures?
(MacCallum & Golmbok, 2004)
No significant differences in child outcomes across family structure types
* All 3 groups identical on everything - self-esteem, academic achievement
* Single mums spent more time with children, higher levels of disputes
* Lesbian parents often showed more equal division of parenting responsibilities and higher awareness of the child’s emotional needs.
* Family processes more important predictors of positive outcomes (not structure)
Children from single mothers, lesbian couples, and two-parent heterosexual families (controlled for SES)
What is the primary cause of step-families?
Divorce or separation.
As of the 2021 Census, how many step-families were there in the UK?
781,000.
Most step-parents male (81.6%)
What age group of children adapts better to step-family dynamics?
Young children adapt better and older children who have left home.
Teenagers struggle the most – developmental challenges, challenging point in their life
(Pryor, 2004)
What has happened to the under-18 conception rate in the UK since 2011?
It has more than halved.
ONS, 2023
What percentage of pregnancies under 18 are terminated?
60%.
What are some subjects covered in a GCSE-level course on parenting?
- Healthy eating
- Labour expectations
- Child development
- Parenting skills
- Financial literacy.
What risk factors contribute to becoming a teen mum?
- Neighbourhood
- School problems
- Lack of contraception
- Low aspirations.
- Relative/friend who’s an adolescent parent (Moore & Brooks-Gunn, 2002)
- Older sister having a baby in her teens doubles probability of younger sibling doing the same (Monstad, Propper & Salvanes, 2011)
True or False: Adolescent mothers can provide good quality childcare.
True
(But, lower levels of talking and cognitive stimulation (Moore & Brooks-Gunn, 2002)
Competent; warm; responsive; appropriate discipline
What are some challenges faced by adolescent mothers?
- Unstable family life
- Stress
- Low earnings/benefits
- May have had an abusive childhood (teen pregnancy more common)
All these issues and stressors can be risk factors for the child’s development
Children raised by teen mothers vs older mothers - differences?
Levine et al., 2007
- School & behaviour problems
- Cognitive functioning not as advanced
- Attachment problems
What are the long-term outcomes for teen mothers compared to those who had babies in their 20s?
Unicef (2001)
- Less than upper secondary education: 65% vs 37%
- Not working: 61% vs 37%.
- Low household income: 53% vs 23%
- Without partner: 39% vs 15%
What did research show about children raised by same-sex parents compared to heterosexual parents?
Few significant differences in parenting
- Division of childcare more equal
- Greater awareness of children
- Higher levels of support
