The Rise in Single Parent Families and Suicides, Accidental Deaths, and Homicides among Children

• In Event: 220 - Section on the Sociology of the Family Roundtables (one-hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 12. Family Structure and Family Instability

Abstract

Although many studies have examined associations between family structure and children’s well-being at the individual level, few studies have considered how the increase in single-parent households may have affected children’s well-being at the population level. We examined changes in the percentage of children living with single parents between 1968 and 2010 and state-level trends in crude death rates for suicides, fatal accidents, and homicides among children and youth (age 19 or younger). Regression models with state and year fixed effects revealed that increases in single parenthood were associated with increases in suicide rates, homicide rates, and total deaths from all causes, but not with deaths due to accidents.

Authors

• Sarah Elizabeth Patterson, Pennsylvania State University

• Paul R. Amato, Pennsylvania State University