Michelle Lide
Ms. Page
Engliish 111
06/29/2017 Single Parent Children v Dual Parent Children
When thinking about the factors that determines a child behavior, you would normally
think that they are not receiving attention at home or maybe that have a disorder such as ADD
OR ADHD, which is diagnose in many children these days. It could also stem from biological,
emotional as well as environment influences. But the thought that a child’s living arrangement,
specifically whether the child lives with both parents or not could make a major difference in the
behavior of any child. A child that comes from a single parent household shows more
independency than a child does, that live with both parents. That Child also develops different
social, psychological and cognitive skill than children with both parents in the home. Children
that come from single parent households behavior differs from that of a child that come from a
dual parent household.
“Studies conducted by Dr. Paul Amato, Professor of Family Sociology and Demography
at Pennsylvania State University show that children who grow up with both biological parents in
the same household are less likely to experience a variety of cognitive, emotional and social
problems (Kedro, M 2016).” Children that are raise in single parent household, primarily the
mother as the parent tend to develop a more mature mentality at an earlier age than a child that
lives with both of their parents. Their upbringing allows them to develop skills that could
potentially be used to their advantage. Independence is something most children in single parent
household are very well aware of being able to perform. That is because that parent has to work,
meaning they are not as able to be involved in their children lives as much as they would like.
“Some 12 per cent of children brought up by one parent displayed series behavioral problems by
the age of seven, it was disclosed, compared with just six per cent of youngsters raised by both
Michelle Lide
Ms. Page
Engliish 111
06/29/2017
natural parents (Paton, G 2010). Income and qualifications are reasons for the difference in
behavior. Two parent children are at an advantage because they have that extra support from
their parents. Compared to children in dual parent homes that are less likely to have as many
duties as single parent children, they lack in responsibility. On the plus side, dual parent children
are more likely to maintain higher standards of living, because of having multiple incomes it
allows those children to stress less over life circumstances. There is also a point in their life were
they may encounter arguments between their parents leaving them in a world wind of confusion.
Whereas, single parent children would not have to experience something as traumatizing as that
at such a young age.
