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divorce. Note that while a covenant marriage
serves a protective function for a marriage, is
not an attempt to keep spouses or children
in abusive relationships or in relationships
with infidelity.

Single-Parent Families

Research clearly shows that children
develop best when they live with two,
happily married adults (Amato, 2003).
Unfortunately, this is not always possible.
One of the consequences of divorce is the
single-parent family. Divorce is not the
only way to create a single-parent family.
An increasing number of women are
choosing to raise a child conceived out of
wedlock. In addition, a smaller percentage
of children are raised by one parent
following the death of the other parent.
Single-parent families created by divorce
are susceptible to all of the consequences
of divorce: reduced income, emotional
and behavioral symptoms in children,
plus difficulties specific to single-parent
families. As the divorce rate has increased
and the stigma of having a child out of
wedlock has decreased, the number of
children living with only one parent has
increased. Nearly 28% of all children
under the age of 21 are living in single-
parent households. The number of single
mothers increased from 3 million to 10
million between 1970 and 2000 (Fields &
Casper, 2001). In 2004, 70% of all

children were living with both parents,

23.2% were living in mother-headed

homes, and 3.2% in father-headed homes

(Kreider, 2008). One in three children is

born to unmarried parents, and 1 in 2

children will live in a single-parent family

at some point in childhood (Children and

Families in Crisis, 2004).

Financial Difficulties

Single-parent families created by the

death of a spouse typically are financially

better off than single-parent families

created by divorce. After a divorce, single

mothers often find it difficult to provide

an acceptable standard of living for their

families. Many rely on welfare for at least a

period of time. Lack of child support

exacerbates the financial difficulties,

especially since less than 45% of mothers

Chapter 13

One in three children is born to unmarried parents,

and 1 in 2 children will live in a single-parent

family at some point in childhood.

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