Citation
Sassler, Sharon; Williams, Kristi; Addo, Fenaba R.; Frech, Adrianne; & Cooksey, Elizabeth C. (2013). Family Structure and High School Graduation: How Children Born to Unmarried Mothers Fare. Genus, 69(2), 1-33.Abstract
A vast body of research indicates that being raised in a family that does not include both biological parents is associated with a range of poor outcomes in childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood (Amato, 2005; Brown, 2006; Ermisch and Francesconi, 2001; McLanahan and Sandefur, 1994). Children who did not grow up with both biological parents score lower on measures of psychological adjustment and academic success, (Amato, 2005; Brown, 2006; Ermisch and Francesconi, 2001) and are more likely to be involved in adolescent sexual activity and to experience early childbearing (Cavanagh, Crissey, and Raley, 2008; Cherlin, Kiernan, and Chase-Landsdale, 1995; Francesconi, 2008; Raley, Crissey, and Muller, 2007; Ryan, Franzetta, Schelar, and Manlove, 2009; Wu and Martinson, 1993). This literature has focused primarily on children in divorced families. Less is known about the well-being of children born to never married mothers, especially when they reach adolescence and young adulthood. This is a substantial omission, given the increase in nonmarital childbearing over the past twenty years in many countries. As of 2008, over 40% of all births in the United States occurred outside of marriage (Hamilton, Martin, and Ventura, 2010), and the proportion of births to unmarried women is even higher in many European countries (Chapple, 2009; Martin and Kats, 2003).Reference Type
Journal ArticleYear Published
2013Journal Title
GenusAuthor(s)
Sassler, SharonWilliams, Kristi
Addo, Fenaba R.
Frech, Adrianne
Cooksey, Elizabeth C.