Associations Between Family Structure Change and Child Behavior Problems: The Moderating Effect of Family Income

Abstract

This study investigated conditions under which family structure matters most for child well-being. Using data from the Children of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (n = 3,936), a national sample of U.S. families, it was estimated how changes in family structure related to changes in children's behavior between age 3 and 12 separately by household income level to determine whether associations depended on families' resources. Early changes in family structure, particularly from a two-biological-parent to single-parent family, predicted increases in behavior problems more than later changes, and movements into single and stepparent families mattered more for children of higher versus lower income parents. Results suggest that for children of higher income parents, moving into a stepfamily may improve, not undermine, behavior.

A Comparative Study of Identity Styles, Quality of Life and Behavioral Problems between Single Parent and Two Parent Adolescents

“…The results are consistent with the findings of Karimi, Bolgari and Asgharnejad (2007), Ryan, Claessens and Markowitz (2015); Mageina (1997) and Liu, Guo, Okawa, Zhai, Li, Uchiyama, Neiderhiser and Coretta (2000), but inconsistent with those of Hakim Shooshtray, Hajebi, Panaghy and Abedi (2008). In Coleman's theory (1980), any of the adolescence problems reach the maximum (or peak) stress in a particular chronological age (which is different and unchanged both in terms of people and various problems of adolescence), and the adolescents' adjustments are faced with problems when the peak age of stress coincides with the occurrence of certain problems.…”

“…Slobodskaya (2015) found that behavioral problems are indirectly affected by family structure through parental behaviors, family interactions and socioeconomic factors. Ryan, Claessens and Markowitz (2015) indicated that a change in family structure, from a biological two-parent family to a single-parent family, is associated with increased behavioral problems. On the other hand, Hakim Shooshtray, Panaghy and Hajebi (2008) found no significant difference between two-parent and single-parent families in terms of the prevalence of behavioral problems.…”

Gender disparities among the association between cumulative family-level stress & adolescent weight status

“…Thus, the positive association between family-level stress and adolescent weight status may be stronger among lower-income families. At the same time, recent research suggests that family instability negatively influences children's behavior more for higher-income families than lower-income families (Ryan et al, 2014). Related, the changes in family structure may reduce the economic and emotional resources that higher-income fathers provide, ultimately increasing family stress.…”

Influence of maternal care on the developing brain: Mechanisms, temporal dynamics and sensitive periods

“…In humans, longitudinal studies indicate that early-life transition from a two-biological-parent to single-parent family structure is associated with increased behavioral problems in children [63]. However, even in non-biparental species, the benefit of multiple caregivers can be observed.…”