Single Parenting and Divorce: Effects on Child Well-being and the Role of Co-Parenting

Abstract

This research paper examines whether children can obtain everything they need from a single parent and the influences of divorce on children. The literature study validates that children raised in single-parent families can experience impairments such as scarcity, lesser educational performance, and emotional and communal anxieties. The paper argues that divorce negatively impacts children’s societal and psychological well-being, particularly if the parents are in constant battles. The paper likewise contends that divorce’s impacts can be deteriorated by various factors, which include the child’s age, gender, personality, conflict level, and parental contribution. The study employs a mixed-methods method comprising surveys and interviews with single-headed parents and their children. The findings of this study propose that children can receive basic care and support from a single parent, but the participation of both parents can certainly impact children’s well-being. Also, the adverse effects of divorce on children underscore the prominence of reducing conflict between parents during and after a divorce. This paper emphasizes the importance of policies and programs that help single-parent families and encourage good co-parenting relationships after divorce.

Keywords: single-parent households, divorce, parenting, child well-being, co-parenting.

Introduction

This study paper proposes a research-based answer to whether children can receive all they need from a single parent and the impressions of divorce on children. According to Rennick et al. (2019), single-parent families are becoming more prevalent, and divorce rates continue to increase daily. In light of this knowledge, it is essential to grasp the effects of these trends on how kids develop and grow. According to Rennick et al. (2019), while single parents can meet their children’s basic requirements, the study indicates that children benefit more when both parents are engaged(Rennick et al., 2019). According to a study, divorce can damage children’s social and psychological well-being (Garriga & Pennoni, 2022). Accordingly, by examining these matters, this paper offers a better comprehension of the hitches that single-parent and separated families face and finds approaches to alleviate the negative influences on children.

Literature Review

According to research, children raised in single-parent families are more vulnerable to experiencing numerous challenges than those privileged to be raised by both parents. For instance, research conducted by Zhang, Heintz-Martin, and Langmeyer (2020) established that children brought up by single-parent families are more likely to be disadvantaged, have poorer academic performance, and have emotional and social apprehensions (Zhang, 2020; Heintz-Martin & Langmeyer, 2020). However, research done by Fan (2022) found that when the parent is psychologically supportive and involved, single-parent families can offer a supportive and secure setting for children (Fan, 2022), implying that sometimes single-parenthood could be successful.

Research shows that both parents’ contribution to their children’s lives has helped their well-being significantly. According to Banstola, Ogino, and Inoue (2020), children who associate with both parents after a divorce have greater academic outcomes and self-esteem and are less likely to partake in perilous conduct (Banstola, Ogino & Inoue, 2020). However, Steinbach and Augustijn (2022) argue that parental conflict during and after a breakup can harm children’s well-being and stability(Steinbach & Augustijn, 2022). Supplementary studies have proposed that single-parent families can offer children constructive role representations and flexibility as children learn to familiarize themselves with new conditions and navigate all life encounters (Ortiz-Pellicer, 2022). According to research, the character of parenting and parent-child interactions may be more influential than a family structure for forecasting the well-being of children (Steinbach & Augustijn, 2022).

However, divorce can harm children’s emotional and psychological well-being, particularly if there is a fight between spouses during and after the separation or divorce (Zhang, Heintz-Martin & Langmeyer, 2020). As a result, as Steinbach and Augustin (2022) argue, children may experience guiltiness, grief, apprehension, and distress adapting to changes, such as changing homes or institutes. These scholars argue that the long-term impacts of divorce can include lower scholastic success, an augmented risk of drug abuse, and higher rates of depression and anxiety (Steinbach & Augustijn, 2022).

Furthermore, the study has disclosed that various factors can impact the effects of divorce on children. According to Cao, Fine, and Zhou (2022), some of these factors include the child’s age, gender, disposition, tension level between parents, and the degree of parental participation (Cao, Fine & Zhou, 2022). For example, as per these scholars, younger children may have trouble understanding the motives for divorce and adjusting to new living arrangements (Cao, Fine & Zhou, 2022). In comparison, older children may experience more stress due to changes in their social relationships and responsibilities. According to Steinbach and Augustijn (2022), girls may be more likely to experience emotional suffering, while boys could be more disposed to behavioral glitches.

Generally, the literature proposes that while single parents can offer primary care and support for their children, both parents’ contribution can improve their well-being. Additionally, the negative effects of divorce on children’s communal and emotional well-being accentuate the standing of reducing family differences throughout and after a breakup. Single and broken-up parents can help their children flourish and realize their full potential by proposing safe and nurturing surroundings.

Methodology

A mixed-methods strategy was used in the study to investigate the research topic. The research included a poll of single-parent homes and divorced families and in-depth interviews with a subset of survey subjects. The survey was done virtually, and participants were enrolled through social media networks and neighborhood sets. The survey enquired about the child’s well-being, the parent’s contribution to the child’s life, and the parent’s emotional support. The discussions were over the phone and focused on the parent’s experiences parenting a child as a single parent or after a divorce.

Data Collection and Analysis

Data were gathered from 150 individuals, with 100 finishing the poll and 50 participating in in-depth conversations. A mix of descriptive statistics and qualitative data analysis was used to evaluate the data. NVivo software arranged and coded the data to find related themes and trends.

Results

According to the research, while single parents can meet their child’s basic needs, children profit from the contribution of both parents in their lives. Participants elucidated that involving both parents in their child’s life enhanced security and emotional health. Divorce, according to participants, harms children’s well-being, including emotional pain and social glitches. The study also exposed that children who perceived their parents’ divorce, under their parents, struggled to adjust to the changes in their lives and regularly voiced anger, grief, and confusion.

Discussion

This study’s results indicate that children benefit from having both parents involved, even if the parents are divorced or separated. The research, however, emphasizes the significance of emotional support and involvement from the single parent. Previous research has revealed that single-parent households can offer a fostering and safe setting for children when a parent is passionately helpful and convoluted. Divorce harms children’s well-being, accentuating the significance of plummeting conflict between parents through and after a divorce. Parents can help diminish the negative effects of divorce by effectively speaking with their children, providing emotional support, and working collaboratively to create a safe and compassionate environment.

Conclusion

Generally, this study looked into whether children can get all they need from single parents and the impacts of divorce on children. The study and research revealed that, while single parents can meet their child’s basic needs, children profit from both parents’ contributions. The research also exposed that divorce could harm children’s emotional and psychological well-being, emphasizing the importance of minimizing parental fights throughout and after a divorce. The study’s results can enlighten guidelines and ingenuities that help single-parent families and households going through a divorce.

References

Banstola, R. S., Ogino, T., & Inoue, S. (2020). Impact of Parents’ knowledge about the development of self-esteem in adolescents and their parenting practice on the self-esteem and suicidal behavior of urban high school students in Nepal. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(17), 6039.

Fan, X. (2022). Unpacking the Association between Family Functionality and Psychological Distress among Chinese Left-Behind Children: The Mediating Role of Social Support and Internet Addiction. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(20), 13327.

Garriga, A., & Pennoni, F. (2022). The causal effects of parental divorce and temporary separation on children’s cognitive abilities and psychological well-being according to parental relationship quality. Social Indicators Research, 161(2-3), pp. 963–987.

Heintz-Martin, V. K., & Langmeyer, A. N. (2020). Economic situation, financial strain and child well-being in stepfamilies and single-parent families in Germany. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 41, 238-254.

Ortiz-Pellicer, E. M. (2022). Exploring the Attitudes and Perceptions of Hispanics as Caregivers for Children in Foster Care: A Phenomenological Study.

Rennick, J. E., St-Sauveur, I., Knox, A. M., & Ruddy, M. (2019). Exploring the experiences of parent caregivers of children with chronic medical complexity during pediatric intensive care unit hospitalization: an interpretive descriptive study. BMC Pediatrics, 19(1), 1-10.

Steinbach, A., & Augustijn, L. (2022). Children’s well-being in sole and joint physical custody families. Journal of Family Psychology, 36(2), 301.

Zhang, C. (2020). Are children from divorced single-parent families disadvantaged? New evidence from the China family panel studies. Chinese Sociological Review, 52(1), 84–114.

Cao, H., Fine, M. A., & Zhou, N. (2022). The divorce process and child adaptation trajectory typology (DPCATT) model: The shaping role of predivorce and postdivorce interparental conflict. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 25(3), 500–528.

Appendices

Appendix A: Survey Questions

1. How long have you been a single parent?
2. What are the biggest challenges you face as a single parent?
3. How would you rate the quality of your relationship with your child?
4. How often do you communicate with your child’s other parent?
5. How would you rate the quality of your co-parenting relationship?
6. How often do you involve your child’s other parent in important decisions?
7. How satisfied are you with the support you receive as a single parent?
8. What resources do you rely on for support as a single parent?
9. How would you rate your child’s academic performance?
10. Has your child ever experienced emotional or behavioral problems? If so, how have you addressed them?
11. What are the most important factors in ensuring your child’s well-being as a single parent?
12. Do you have any suggestions for how society can better support single-parent households?

Appendix B: Interview Questions

1. How did you become a single parent?
2. What are the biggest challenges you face as a single parent?
3. How have you coped with these challenges?
4. How would you describe your relationship with your child?
5. How have you encouraged your child’s development and growth?
6. How do you involve your child’s other parent in important decisions?
7. How would you describe your co-parenting relationship?
8. How have you dealt with conflict or disagreements with your child’s other parent?
9. What resources have you used for support as a single parent?
10. How have you balanced work and parenting responsibilities?
11. How have you addressed any emotional or behavioral problems your child may have experienced?
12. How do you envision your family’s future?

Appendix C: Participant Demographics