ABSTRACT
Single parenthood has long been a popular focus for social commentators, politicians, and academics. At one time or another, it has been blamed for poverty, inherited welfare dependence and the “decline” of the family as indicated by high divorce, declining marriage, and increasing cohabitation rates. Single parents have been faulted for sexually transmitted diseases, substance abuse, food insecurity, violence and reduced family safety, child abuse and neglect, poor academic achievement, lower IQs, poor behavioral and cognitive outcomes for children, juvenile delinquency, childhood obesity, poor physical and mental health, and a host of other problems. Many of these claims have received attention in the scientific literature and relationships among variables often do exist. However, when scientists control for socioeconomic status, most of these relationships simply vanish (see Downey, 1995; Finn & Owings, 1994; Jeynes, 2002; McLanahan & Booth, 1989; Marks, 2006).
